Creating Accessible Content

Use the following baseline practices to help ensure your web content, documents, media, and forms are accessible to all users.

• Use proper headings.
• Write clear, concise, plain language; avoid jargon.
• Alt text for informative images; alt="" for decorative.
• Meaningful links (“Apply for housing,” not “click here”).
• Ensure color contrast; don’t use color alone for meaning.
• Use lists and tables correctly (headers, no layout tables, no merged cells, add description).
• For documents: use built-in styles, tag PDFs, set reading order.
• For media: add captions; provide transcripts for audio; include audio description when visual info is essential.
• For forms: keep labels clear; provide instructions and error help.
   

Accessibility recommendations and best practices

• Accessibility Recommendations for Instructors
• Accessible Media and Captioning Services
• Accessibility and Best Practices for Online Meeting Spaces
• Accessible Textbook Information for Faculty and Instructional Staff
• Using Accessible Colors and Contrast
• STEM Accessibility
• Equatio  

Accessibility resources for publishing accessible course content

• Ally for Instructors
• Ally Alternative Formats
• Elearning Accessibility
• Create Accessible Microsoft Word Documents
• Create Accessible Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations
• Create Accessible Microsoft Excel Workbooks and Charts
• Create Accessible PDFs
• Create Accessible Google Docs and Slides
• Equally Effective Alternative Access Plan
   

Use the following baseline practices to help ensure your pages, components, and apps are accessible to all users.

• Use semantic HTML first; add ARIA only when necessary.
• Ensure full keyboard access, logical focus order, and a visible focus indicator.
• Provide skip links, unique page titles, clear headings/landmarks.
• Meet color contrast (text and UI); don’t use color alone for meaning.
• Forms: explicit labels, instructions, error messages, and programmatic associations; announce async updates.
• Images and icons: informative images have meaningful alt; decorative use alt=""; label icon-only controls.
• Media: captions for video; transcripts for audio; audio description when visuals convey essential info.
• Custom widgets: expose correct name/role/value; manage focus; support arrow keys where appropriate.
• Responsive/reflow: content works at 200%+ zoom without loss; no horizontal scroll for text.
• Tables: use headers/scope for data tables; avoid layout tables.
• Performance and timing: avoid timeouts that hinder assistive tech; provide controls for moving/auto-updating content.
   

Siteimprove resources

• Color Contrast Checker
• Chrome Extension

Webaim resources

• Quick Reference-Web Accessibility Principles
• WCAG 2 Checklist