Quick Actions
- Make sure websites work on different browsers and devices, including mobile phones and tablets.
- Use plain and simple language.
- Ensure all images have descriptive alt text for people who use screen readers.
- When choosing text and background colors, make sure the text is readable.
- Avoid relying on color alone to convey information.
- Make forms accessible, with clear labels, instructions, and error messages that screen readers can detect.
- Offer help or support for users who encounter accessibility barriers.
Long-term Actions
- Involve people who use assistive technologies like screen readers, switch devices, or captioning tools in building and testing websites.
- Test for keyboard-only access across all steps including registration, login, confirmation and uploading documents. If someone can’t complete the process without a mouse, it’s not accessible.
More Information
- WebAIM contains articles about making digital content accessible with clear, hands-on advice.
- WCAG in Plain English is a simplified explanation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It contains information on each of the guidelines and details on how to implement them to make a website accessible.
- Center for Plain Language has tips for getting started with plain language.
- Digital Accessibility Toolkit has best practices for writing alt text.
- WebAIM Contrast Checker can help you choose text and background colors that work.
- The A11y Project is a community-driven accessibility resource for web accessibility. It gives checklists, tips, articles, and links to help people build more accessible digital experiences.
- World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops web accessibility standards. It contains accessibility standards, guidance, training materials, and implementation resources to help people make websites, apps, and other digital content accessible.
Examples
- USA – American National Standards Institute (ANSI) uses Section 508 and ADA-related guidance, and many organizations follow WCAG as the practical web accessibility standard.
- Canada – Standards Council of Canada uses the Accessible Canada Act and provincial accessibility laws like Ontario’s AODA.