Best practices & resources
Accessibility isn’t just about meeting minimum requirements. It’s about creating digital content that works for everyone. This section highlights key design and writing best practices, along with trusted resources to help you go deeper.
Text
Write meaningful link text
❌ Before: Click HERE for details ✅ After: Learn more about WCAG standards
Use clear, direct language
❌ Before: Users are advised to initiate the account verification procedure utilizing the link provided herein. ✅ After: To verify your account, use the link below.
❌ Before: Screen readers, alt text, color contrast, and headings are all important for accessibility. Screen readers help users navigate the page, alt text describes images, and color contrast makes text easier to read. Headings help users understand how content is organized. Without good structure, content is hard to scan or use with assistive technology. ✅ After: Alt Text Alt text describes what’s in an image for screen reader users. Screen Readers Screen readers allow users to navigate a page using headings and landmarks. Color Contrast Color contrast ensures text is readable for users with low vision. Headings Headings help all users scan content and find what they need quickly. Use clear heading levels to group related information.
Structure content for easier navigation
Visual
Small changes, big impact
❌ Before: Link with no underline ✅ After: Link with clear underline or visual cue ❌ Before: Button with no focus ring ✅ After: Button shows clear focus when using keyboard ❌ Before: Crowded layout with little white space ✅ After: Well-spaced content that's easy to scan ❌ Before: Low contrast text (e.g., light gray on white) ✅ After: High contrast text that meets WCAG 2.1 AA
Accessiblity tips
Add alt text to each image that explains the key takeaway Avoid “hover to reveal” interactions—use click or just display both states For complex visuals, add a caption or explanation nearby Decorative visuals don't need alt text or captions, but if removing the image would confuse someone, it needs a description.
Use strong color contrast
🔴 Poor contrast
Light gray text on a white background
-
Fails WCAG contrast minimums
✅ Good contrast
Black text on white background
-
Contrast meets WCAG
Workflow
❌ Before: Accessibility checks are done at the very end of the project. Alt text and headings are added last-minute, and content is tested only visually. There’s no shared checklist or workflow across the team, so accessibility is inconsistent. ✅ After: Plan for accessibility from the start of the project. Use a shared checklist to review content structure, images, and links. Include an accessibility review in the QA process, not just design. Collaborate across content, design, and development to catch issues early.
Content workflow guidance
Accessibility isn’t a final step—it’s a mindset baked into every stage of content creation
What the pros know
Recommended resources
Curated links to trusted learning hubs:
Random access(ibility) wisdom
Or stuff I say in meetings that actually makes sense
Remember
You don’t need to be a developer or legal expert to create accessible content. A few thoughtful changes can make a big difference. Start small. Start somewhere.