Accessibility

Why Accessibility Matters

Accessible content ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access and understand your materials.

Improves usability for everyone
Supports a wide range of needs
Aligns with accessibility standards
Leads to clearer communication

Text & Structure

Well-structured content helps all users scan and understand information quickly. Screen readers rely on headings and structure to navigate content efficiently.

Use headings in a logical order (H1 > H2 > H3)
Keep writing clear and concise
Break up content into short paragraphs or lists, avoid large blocks of text
Use real text when possible; not images of text

Accessible Links

Screen readers announce links without surrounding context. Clear, descriptive link text helps users understand where a link will take them. This also helps anyone viewing the page to scan and quickly identify the links on the page.

Use descriptive link text and avoid phrases like “Click here”. Using “click here” as link text makes it unclear where the link goes.

For example: "Click here to read the guide" vs. "Accessibility Guide"

Illustration showing poor link text (‘click here’) compared to descriptive link text (‘accessibility guide’), with a screen reader reading ‘link: click here’ to demonstrate lack of context

Accessible Images (Alt Text)

Alt text is a short description of an image for people who use screen readers. It should explain what someone needs to understand if they can’t see the image.

When to use alt text:

If the image adds meaning → write alt text
If the image is decorative (like a divider) → leave alt text blank

How to write good alt text:

Focus on the important information
Keep the alt text concise
Don’t start with “image of”

Keep in mind that when adding alt text to digital Canva-based projects, Canva has an alt-text character limit (250 characters).

“Slide titled ‘Alt Text for Images’ showing bad alt text (‘student,’ ‘microscope,’ ‘teacher and student,’ ‘sad kid’) and improved versions (‘Male high school student using a microscope at home’ and ‘Adult woman bending to speak with a child sitting alone, head down, wearing a backpack’) alongside example images”

Color & Contrast

Not all users perceive color the same way; including those with color blindness/color vision deficiency. Strong contrast and clear labeling help ensure content is readable and understandable for everyone.

Fifteen Ishihara color vision test circles arranged in a grid, each made of colored dots forming numbers such as 12, 8, 29, and 57

Ensure strong contrast between text and background (for example, avoid light gray text on white)
Do not rely on color alone to communicate meaning (use labels, patterns, or icons)