In May of 2020, Jackson & Campbell adopted a new policy for all firm communications: it replaced Times New Roman font with Calibri, a more accessible and easier-to-read font. If high-tech scanners had trouble reading Times New Roman font, chances were that some of the people reading our communications also found difficulty in reading that font. Earlier this month, the United States Department of State decided to make the same change that Jackson & Campbell made nearly three years ago. In an internal memo titled “The Times (New Roman) are a-Changin,” the State Department directed its personnel to phase out use of the Times New Roman font by February 6 and adopt the Calibri font for all its official communications and memos. The State Department adopted the policy at the recommendation of its office of diversity and inclusion because Calibri is easier to read for people with visual disabilities who use certain types of assistive technologies, as well as for those who have difficulty reading.  

Although the State Department may have had a more cleverly titled memo, its rationale for the change was essentially identical to Jackson & Campbell’s, i.e., to create a more inclusive environment by removing unnecessary barriers that create difficulties for people with disabilities. While this change sheds an important light on accessibility issues, which some may not immediately associate with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion charge; Jackson & Campbell is proud of the changes it has made to create a more inclusive workplace and of its robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee for leading the way.