Create Accessible Websites

For best practice, adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA. The most current version is WCAG 2.1. Explore WCAG, built around four core principles, and use the following practices to get started.

Set the Default Language

• How to work with language in HTML

Clear and Concise Content

• Write in plain language, avoiding jargon.
• Give each page a descriptive and unique page title.

Headings and Structure

Headings help users understand the information hierarchy to identify a page’s main points and topics quickly. Heading elements (<h1>-<h2>) allow screen reader users to navigate content more efficiently by jumping to different sections and accessing desired information quickly. Clear and descriptive headings also help with comprehension and reduce cognitive load by breaking the text into manageable sections, making scanning and locating specific information more accessible.

• Use HTML heading tags (<h1>to <h6>)
• Use HTML list tags (<ul>, <ol>, and <dl>)
• Learn more about Semantic Structure: Regions, Headings, and Lists on WebAIM.org.

Accessible Links

• Link text should make the destination of the link clear.
• Avoid phrases like “click here,” “learn more,” and “read more.”
• Underline links for quick identification.
• Do not underline non-link text.

Write effective link text

• Improve your link texts
• Links and Hypertext
• Use Meaningful Link Text
• Visit WebAIM’s article on Link Text and Appearance

Color and Contrast

• Ensure the contrast ratio between text and background colors is at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
  • Avoid gold on white: Accessible Text & Color.
  • Visit the Check Accessibility webpage for a list of contrast checkers.
• Do not use color as the only method to convey meaning.
  • Include an additional descriptive component such as text, patterns, or shapes.
  • W3C’s Color Alone Examples
• Learn more about Contrast and Color Accessibility (WebAIM).

Accessible Images

• Provide alternative (alt) text on non-text content that conveys meaning, such as images.
• Keep the alt text concise (about 125 characters).
• Hide images from screen readers that do have meaning or are for decoration.
  • Use an empty alt value (alt=””)
  • The W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative states, “Whether to treat an image as decorative or informative is a judgment only the author can make, based on the reason for including the image on the page.”
• Avoid images with text when possible. If necessary, add alt text.
• Try out the alt Decision Tree
• Use the Alternative (Alt) Text Guide by The Ohio State University

Write effective alt text

• How to Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the visually impaired
• Making Images Accessible
• WebAIM’s Alternative Text Tutorial
• W3C’s Images Concepts Tutorial
• Use the Alternative (Alt) Text Guide by The Ohio State University

Accessible Tables

• Avoid using tables for layout.
• Structure tables using table headers (th) and table data (td) elements.
• Tables concepts tutorial

Accessible Audio & Video

• Make video accessible through closed captioning.
• Make audio files accessible through transcripts.
• How to: Make Audio and Video Accessible

Keyboard Accessibility

Make sure all content on the website is usable with the keyboard.

• Design for Keyboard Accessibility
• Keyboard Do’s and don’ts
• Keyboard Accessibility by WebAIM
• Media Player Controls Should Be Keyboard Accessible, Screen Reader Compatible

Accessibility Statements

Users of your content will usually refer to accessibility statements when they encounter problems.

• Create an accessibility statement for your website.
• Provide information that is useful to the users and is easy to find.
• Use the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) tool to create an Accessibility Statement.