News
By Soph McCormack-Gow, Trustee at Break the Silence
At Break the Silence we are in the middle of redesigning our website, and it has pushed us to look even more closely at what it means to be neurodiversity‑friendly and what accessible design really means in practice.
As we’ve listened to clients, colleagues and partners, a clear pattern has emerged: the things that genuinely help neurodivergent people are often small, clear changes that also make the site easier and calmer for everyone. Rather than treating neurodiversity as a specialist add‑on, we are trying to build these ideas into the way the whole website works.
Below are six of our learnings that are helping shape our decisions as the website progresses.
1. Clear step‑by‑step information is an access need, not a luxury
For many people, especially autistic or anxious people, detailed information about what will happen when they contact a service like Break the Silence is essential, not optional. Being able to understand how to get into the building or log onto a call with your therapist for the first time, what the entrance or video call looks like, where or how to sit, roughly what will happen, and how long things will last can dramatically lower fear and overwhelm.
It is similar to reading a restaurant menu before you go: once you know what to expect, you can focus on the experience instead of worrying about the unknown. Simple walk‑through videos, photo guides or clear written steps can turn a stressful first visit into something manageable.
2. Silent observers might be highly engaged
Many people never like, comment or share posts about sensitive topics, but they still read them very carefully. This may be especially true when someone is deciding whether to seek support for trauma, abuse or mental health. Neurodivergent and anxious people often carry out a lot of quiet research before they contact anyone, reading websites, scanning social feeds and looking for evidence that a service is safe, qualified and trustworthy.
To that end, clear, honest content about who we are, our standards and what we offer is what we aim to share regularly on our website and social feeds, even if it doesn’t generate as many visible reactions as we might expect.
3. Practical detail can be more soothing than reassuring words
Warmth and kindness matter, but they are not always enough by themselves. For many people, especially those who are autistic, very anxious or have had bad experiences in the past, specific information calms the nervous system more than general reassurance. Questions like ‘How long is a session?’, ‘Will I have to talk about things I’m not ready for?’, ‘Can I stop or take a break?’ and ‘Can I come back if it helps?’ may seem basic from a professional’s point of view. But from a client’s point of view, honest answers to these questions can be the difference between never making contact and feeling safe enough to book.
4. Changes that help neurodivergent people help almost everyone
Many adjustments that support neurodivergent people are also core to good trauma‑informed practice. Things such as predictable processes, genuine choice (e.g. online or in‑person therapy), information in different formats (written, visual, video) and a pace that respects the client all help people feel safer.
You don’t need a diagnosis for these things to matter. Someone who is exhausted, overwhelmed or terrified of getting it wrong often benefits from the same kinds of clarity and flexibility as someone with recognised neurodivergence. When we design services with neurodiversity in mind, we usually end up making them kinder and more usable for everyone.
5. Real accessibility is multi‑layered
Offering phone or video appointments is a good start, but true accessibility goes further including things like having a clear website layout, using simple language, subtitles and sign language on videos, providing easy‑to‑find contact options and developing partnerships with organisations that support people with disabilities. These steps particularly support neurodivergent people with additional access needs, but they also help anyone who is stressed, tired, using a small screen, or trying to get information quickly. Accessibility is not a niche add‑on but rather a part of basic good design and good care.
6. Accessibility plug‑ins can get in the way
Many websites now add plug‑ins that promise one‑click accessibility, offering font changers, colour switchers and reading modes. In practice, though, these tools can clash with the specialist software that blind, visually‑impaired and neurodivergent users already rely on, slowing pages down and creating confusing extra layers of controls.
A better approach is to focus on building a clean, standards‑based site from the ground up: semantic HTML, good heading structure, proper labels for forms and buttons, strong colour contrast, keyboard‑friendly navigation and content that is written in clear, plain language. When a site follows these principles, people who use screen readers, magnifiers, browser extensions or other assistive apps can apply their own tools and settings to get the best experience for them, instead of having to fight against a one‑size‑fits‑all overlay.
What have we missed?
We’re hoping to launch our refreshed and more accessible website this summer. However, like everyone, we’re still learning, and we’d really value your perspective. Is there anything that would make our website or services feel safer, clearer or more accessible for you? Please let us know because your feedback will help us keep improving. Contact info@breakthesilence.org.uk