Create Accessible Web Content

Learn

Web accessibility isn’t just about single elements; it’s about the Path. If a user can’t navigate your menu, they can’t find your accessible content. Here are some key terms to learn.

• WCAG Guidelines: The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is the international “rulebook” for making the digital world fair for everyone. When you check a document’s accessibility compliance, you are often checking against this set of rules.
• HTML: HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the structure of your webpage. It tells the browser, “This is a heading,” “This is a paragraph,” or “This is a list.”
• ARIA: Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA). ARIA is a set of special labels developers can add to HTML when the plain HTML isn’t enough. It’s like adding a sign to a door that says “Push” or “Pull.” You likely won’t do anything with ARIA in your web content, but it you may encounter it in your reviews.
• Assistive Technology: screen readers (like NVDA or JAWS) rely on “clean” HTML and ARIA labels to navigate web content. If you use a “Bold” font instead of a “Heading” tag, the screen reader doesn’t know it’s a new section, and they loses their map of the page.

Key Elements: Focus on the “Big Five”

When drafting, reviewing, or publishing your web content, here are the “big five” things to pay closest attention to:

1. Semantic Headings: Using H1, H2, and H3 tags.
2. Alt Text: Descriptions for images.
3. Contrast: High text-to-background color ratios.
4. Reading Order: Ensuring the logical flow of information.
5. Descriptive Elements: Ensuring all interactive elements—including links, buttons, and form labels—have unique, descriptive names. Avoid generic labels like “Click Here,” “Read More,” or “Submit.” Instead, use “Download the 2026 Physics Syllabus” or “Register for the STEM Workshop.”

Adopt

Consistency is the enemy of exclusion. Transition from “fixing” web pages to “creating” them accessibly from the start.

• Style Themes are King: Whenever possible, use an accessible web theme. Using an accessible theme means that things like color contrast, font legibility, and mobile responsiveness are often optimized for the content and platform. Avoid “customizing” colors or fonts.
• The “Web-First” Approach: Before creating a 50-page PDF, ask “Could this be a web page instead?” HTML content is inherently more accessible, easier to search, and responds better to mobile devices than static documents. It is 10x faster to maintain one webpage than it is to remediate and re-upload multiple versions of a PDF.
• Continuous Tool Integration: Don’t wait until your site is “finished” to check for errors. Use accessibility tools as you build each page. Checking your headers and image Alt Text in real-time prevents “Accessibility Debt” from piling up.

Archive

If you have ever managed a website or digital platform you know how easy it is for old content to build up. You don’t necessarily need to remediate all of this information, but you do need a strategy to manage your digital footprint.

• Review Traffic: If available, use your platform’s analytics to identify which webpages are still being accessed and which are “dead.” If a page hasn’t been viewed in 18 months, it’s a prime candidate for deletion or archiving.
• Prioritize by Impact: If a 10-year-old webpage gets one hit a year, archive it as-is and include a clear accessibility disclaimer. However, if a high-traffic “Gateway” page (like a homepage or a major project instructions page) is inaccessible, it needs immediate remediation.
• Clear Labeling & Response: If an archived webpage isn’t fully accessible, you must provide a clear way for users to request an accessible version. A simple footer or sidebar note like: “This is an archived resource. To request an accessible version of this content, please contact [Department Email]” provides a vital safety net.

Update

Websites are dynamic. Every time you add a new blog post, update a syllabus page, or change a navigation menu, accessibility must be preserved.

• Avoid “Copy-Paste” Bloat: When moving content from Word or another website into a new digital platform, never paste directly. This often imports “hidden” HTML code that breaks screen reader patterns. Instead, use “Paste as Plain Text” (Ctrl+Shift+V) and then use the platform’s built-in tools to add your headings and links.
• Manual Verification is Essential: Automated checkers are excellent at finding “missing” data, but they can’t tell if your Alt Text is actually helpful or if your heading structure makes sense. A human should always review updates to ensure the context remains clear and logical.
• The 400% Zoom Test: Modern accessibility standards require that a website remains fully functional when zoomed in to 400%. This is vital for users with low vision and for mobile access. After updating a page, zoom in; if the text overlaps or requires horizontal scrolling to read a single sentence, the layout is not accessible.

Accessibility “rot” happens when a team stops paying attention. Maintenance ensures your standards don’t slip over time.

• Training Updates: As software evolves (e.g., new AI features for auto-generating alt text), take some time to explore these new tools and features.
• Regular Audits: Don’t wait for a redesign to check your content. Schedule quarterly reviews of your most-accessed web pages. Focus on your homepage, navigation menus, and current semester course pages.
• Feedback Loops: Provide a simple, visible way for users with disabilities to report barriers. Make contact information easy to find and explain how users can contact you with questions. These users are your best “quality control” experts, and their feedback is the most direct way to improve the user experience.