Creating web content that is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities, is not just a matter of good practice or legal compliance – it's about inclusivity and ensuring your message can reach the widest possible audience. Web accessibility (often abbreviated as a11y) means designing and developing websites, tools, and technologies so that people with disabilities can use them effectively.
While technical aspects like ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation are crucial, the way you write and structure your textual content plays an equally significant role. This guide provides practical tips for writers and content creators to make their web content more accessible. Many of our tools at Text-Edit.Online, like ensuring our Case Converter works with keyboard navigation (a goal!), are developed with accessibility in mind.
1. What is Web Accessibility (a11y) and Why is it Important?
Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the Web, including auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, and visual.
When websites are correctly designed, developed, and edited, all users have equal access to information and functionality. For example, providing text alternatives for images allows screen reader users to understand visual content. Ensuring good color contrast helps users with low vision. Clear and simple language benefits users with cognitive disabilities and, in fact, *all* users...
2. Use Clear and Descriptive Headings (H1-H6)
Headings create a logical structure for your content, making it easier for all users (especially those using screen readers) to navigate and understand the hierarchy of information.
Think of your headings as an outline for your page. Screen reader users can quickly jump between headings to find the information they need, much like sighted users scan a page. Avoid using headings purely for stylistic purposes; their primary role is structural...
3. Write Meaningful and Descriptive Link Text
Avoid generic link text like "Click Here," "Read More," or "Learn More." Instead, make your link text descriptive of where the link will take the user.
Imagine a screen reader reading out a list of links on a page: "Click here, click here, click here." This provides no useful information. However, links like "Download the Annual Report (PDF)" or "Visit Our Contact Page" are clear and informative. Ensure your link text accurately describes the destination or action...
4. Provide Alternative Text (Alt Text) for Images
Images can convey a lot of information, but they are inaccessible to users who are blind or have low vision unless you provide a text alternative (alt text).
If an image contains important text, that text should ideally be in the alt text or also present as actual text on the page. For functional images like buttons, the alt text should describe the action (e.g., `alt="Search products"`). The goal of alt text is to provide an equivalent experience for users who cannot see the image...
5. Use Clear and Simple Language
Write in a way that is easy to understand for a broad audience, including those with cognitive disabilities, learning disabilities, or non-native English speakers.
Clarity benefits everyone. Aim for a reading level that is appropriate for your target audience but generally err on the side of simplicity. Tools that analyze readability (like Flesch-Kincaid scores) can be helpful, though human judgment is also key...
6. Ensure Good Color Contrast
While more of a design aspect, writers should be aware of it. Text must have sufficient contrast against its background to be easily readable, especially for users with low vision or color blindness.
If you have any control over the presentation of your text (e.g., in a CMS or email marketing tool), choose color combinations that meet at least WCAG AA contrast standards. This usually means dark text on a light background or vice versa...
7. Use Tables for Tabular Data, Not Layout
HTML tables should be used for presenting tabular data (rows and columns of related information), not for visual layout of page elements (which should be done with CSS).
When using tables for data, ensure that column and row headers are clearly identified using `
8. Provide Controls for Multimedia Content
If your content includes audio or video, ensure users have controls to play, pause, stop, and adjust volume. Also, provide captions for video and transcripts for audio.
Captions should be synchronized with the video and accurately represent the spoken dialogue and important non-speech sounds. Transcripts provide a text version of audio content, benefiting various users...
Conclusion: Writing Inclusively Benefits Everyone
Creating accessible web content is an ongoing commitment that benefits not only users with disabilities but all users by making your content clearer, more usable, and easier to understand. By incorporating these writing and formatting principles into your workflow, you can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable web.
Start with small changes, test your content, and keep learning. Resources like the W3C WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) website are invaluable for further guidance. Making your content accessible is a sign of quality and respect for your entire audience.