If the intended output for your document is print there are a few considerations for accessibility of the finished output you might like to make before your document goes to print.
Stocks and substrates
The type and quality of paper you print onto can have accessibility implications. Some types of coloured and hand made paper can impair the contrast between the background paper and the text or image being printed. The contrast between text and background should be as high as possible to improve legibility. For further information about contrast see our pages on Colour.
What's on the other side?
If you are printing double sided onto relatively thin paper you may get show-through, where elements of the print on the opposite side can be seen through the paper. This can cause a visual distraction from the print on the top side, and can reduce the clarity of your text causing legibility issues. Ideally documents should be printed on stock of sufficient weight to prevent show-through.
That glossy brochure...
The finish on your paper or any choice related to lamination or encapsulation can be critical for low vision use. As a general rule gloss finishes should be avoided wherever possible because of their reflective qualities. Any reflected light or image can interfere with the clarity of the printed document, and could impair legibility. Gloss finishes commonly present a barrier to printed information which could easily be removed. A quality Matt finish can make a document look good while not preventing access to the information on the page.
Clarity of print
Professional printers work hard to produce good quality output, and will have a system of checks to ensure they preserve a high level of print quality on any materials they produce. These types of checks are also a useful exercise to follow for any in-house or domestic printing performed. Things to look for include:
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ink levels are consistently good across the page
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all colours are printed appropriately and give the level of contrast intended on the original design
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the alignment or registration of print, misalignment can cause blurring of text and images
Preparing for other needs
No matter how well designed and produced your document is, any printed material will never meet the needs of all people. Some people will not be able to read print, and may prefer the same information in another format like braille or audio, or simply by accessing the electronic file. Whatever you are printing it is always a good idea to keep a text based electronic original of your document.