Digital Accessibility

Web Content

Overview

Accessible websites allow people with disabilities to access, navigate, understand, and interact with online content using a variety of devices and assistive technologies.

Creating accessible web content improves usability for everyone. Clear organization, meaningful links, descriptive headings, and accessible images help visitors find information more efficiently, regardless of how they access the web.

This page introduces the essential accessibility practices that content creators and website editors should use when creating and maintaining web content.

Use Proper Heading Structure

Headings help organize content and make it easier for visitors to understand and navigate a page.

Good heading structure:

  • Organizes content into logical sections
  • Helps users scan content quickly
  • Supports screen reader navigation
  • Improves overall readability

Best practices:

  • Use headings to organize content, not to create visual styling
  • Follow a logical hierarchy
  • Avoid skipping heading levels
  • Make headings descriptive and meaningful

Example:

Heading 1: Page Title

Heading 2: Main Section

Heading 3: Subsection

Heading 2: Another Main Section

Write Meaningful Link Text

Links should clearly describe their destination, purpose, or action.

Good examples:

  • Download the Annual Report (PDF)
  • Register for the Accessibility Workshop
  • Review the Accessibility Self-Audit Checklist

Avoid:

  • Click here
  • Learn more
  • Read more
  • More information

Meaningful link text helps users understand where a link will take them, even when links are reviewed out of context.

Use Lists for Related Information

Lists help organize related content and improve readability.

Use:

  • Bulleted lists for collections of related items
  • Numbered lists for sequences and step-by-step instructions

Avoid manually creating lists using:

  • Dashes
  • Asterisks used as visual bullets
  • Extra spacing and indentation

Use the built-in list tools available in your content management system.

Create Accessible Tables

Tables should be used to present data, not to control page layout.

Best practices:

  • Include column and row headers where appropriate
  • Keep tables as simple as possible
  • Avoid merged cells when practical
  • Provide context explaining the purpose of the table

If information can be presented effectively as a list, consider using a list instead of a table.

Provide Alternative Text for Images

Images that convey information should include alternative text that communicates the same meaning or purpose.

Alternative text should:

  • Be concise
  • Reflect the purpose of the image
  • Consider the surrounding context
  • Focus on relevant information

Decorative images generally do not require descriptive alternative text.

For detailed guidance, review Images & Graphics.

Use Descriptive Page Titles

Page titles help users understand where they are and support navigation, search, and browser functionality.

Good page titles:

  • Are concise and descriptive
  • Communicate the primary topic
  • Differentiate the page from other pages

Avoid generic titles such as:

  • Home
  • Resources
  • Information

Instead, choose titles that clearly describe the page's content.

Write for Readability

Accessible content is easier to understand and use.

Best practices:

  • Use plain language whenever possible
  • Keep paragraphs reasonably short
  • Break content into sections
  • Use headings throughout long pages
  • Define uncommon terms and acronyms

Clear writing benefits all users, including people with cognitive disabilities and those who are unfamiliar with a topic.

Avoid Using Color Alone

Color should not be the only method used to communicate information.

Examples:

  • Don't rely solely on red text to indicate an error.
  • Don't rely solely on green text to indicate success.
  • Include labels, icons, text, or other indicators in addition to color.

Users with color vision deficiencies may not perceive color differences the same way as other users.

For additional guidance, review Color & Visual Design.

Use Accessible Documents and Media

Web accessibility extends beyond the web page itself.

Content linked from a web page should also be accessible.

Examples include:

  • PDFs
  • Word documents
  • PowerPoint presentations
  • Excel spreadsheets
  • Videos
  • Audio recordings

For additional guidance, review:

Review Content Before Publishing

Before publishing content, consider the following questions:

  • Does the page have a descriptive title?
  • Are headings used correctly?
  • Do links clearly describe their destination?
  • Do images include appropriate alternative text?
  • Is the content organized logically?
  • Is color used appropriately?
  • Are linked documents accessible?
  • Can users understand the content without additional explanation?

Accessibility review is most effective when incorporated into routine publishing workflows.