Theme: Visual meaning
Tip 6 : Color & Contrast
Core skill: Don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning for accessibility.
Why it matters
Users with low vision or color-blindness may not perceive color differences. Low contrast text can also be unreadable for many users.
What to do (2-minute action)
- Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background
- Use text labels, symbols, or patterns in addition to color
Examples
- NO: “Items in red are required”
- YES: “Required items are marked with an asterisk (*)”
Learn more
- Siteimprove Learning Hub: Images and Colors for Designers
- University of Minnesota ODA: Contrast
Tip 7 - Images & Alternative Text
Core skill: Provide alt text for meaningful images for accessibility.
Why it matters
Screen readers cannot interpret images without text alternatives. Alt text ensures that users who cannot see images still receive the information.
What to do (2-minute action)
- Add brief, descriptive alt text for informative images
- Mark decorative images as decorative (null alt text)
Good alt text
Focus on purpose, not appearance.
Learn more
- University of Minnesota ODA: Writing effective alt text
- Siteimprove: Fundamentals of alt text