Accessibility Basics
Making digital content accessible ensures everyone, including people with disabilities, can use and understand it. Whether you’re creating a website, an email, a document, or social media, these basics will help you make your content more accessible.
Captions
Captions provide a text version of spoken content in videos. They help people who are deaf or hard of hearing and benefit anyone watching without sound.
- Where to use: Videos (social media, websites, documents)
- Why it matters: Ensures everyone can access video content, even in silent environments.
Color
Colors should be chosen carefully to ensure enough contrast between text and background. Avoid relying only on color to convey meaning.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, social media, emails
- Why it matters: Low contrast or color-only cues make content hard for people with visual impairments to understand.
Layout
A clear and simple layout makes your content easier to understand and navigate. Use a logical flow and make sure elements are predictable.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, emails
- Why it matters: Helps everyone, especially those using assistive technology, to navigate content easily.
Headings and Page Title
Headings organize content into sections, making it easier for people to find what they need. Page titles tell users the main topic of the page.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, emails
- Why it matters: Helps people using screen readers quickly understand and navigate your content.
Lists
Use bullet or numbered lists to organize information clearly. Lists help break down content into smaller, easy-to-follow pieces.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, emails
- Why it matters: Makes it easier for everyone, including people using screen readers, to understand the content.
Keyboard Accessibility
All features should be usable with just a keyboard. This is important for people who cannot use a mouse.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, interactive media
- Why it matters: Some users rely solely on keyboards, so ensuring keyboard access makes content available to all.
Images
Add alternative text (alt text) to describe images. This helps people who can’t see the images understand their content.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, social media, emails
- Why it matters: Provides context for images to people who use screen readers or can’t see images.
Links
Use descriptive text for links, so users know where clicking the link will take them.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, emails
- Why it matters: Helps all users, especially those using screen readers, to understand what will happen when they click a link.
Tables
Tables should be used for presenting data, not for layout. Include clear headers to help users understand the information, and avoid merged table cells which can create confusion for users of assistive technology.
- Where to use: Websites, documents
- Why it matters: Helps screen readers navigate and present table data clearly.
Transcripts
Provide transcripts for audio content. This makes audio information accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Where to use: Podcasts, videos
- Why it matters: Makes audio content accessible to all users.
Plain Language
Use simple words and short sentences to make your content easy to understand.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, social media, emails
- Why it matters: Helps everyone, including those with cognitive disabilities, understand your content.
Graphs, Charts, and Complex Images
Provide descriptions for graphs, charts, and complex images that explain what they show.
- Where to use: Websites, documents, emails, videos
- Why it matters: Helps users who can’t see complex visuals understand the information they present.