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By Shelly Leroux · Sept 16, 2024

The Inclusive Content Checklist: Essential Tips for Making Every Piece of Content Accessible

Why Accessibility Matters

In today's digital age, everyone deserves to have equal access to information. When you create content that is accessible, you're not just following a trend; you're ensuring that your message reaches a wider audience. This includes people with disabilities, those using assistive technologies, and those with slower internet connections.

Key Components of Accessible Content

1. Clear and Concise Language:

•  Avoid jargon: Use simple, everyday language that everyone can understand.

•  Keep sentences short: Long, complex sentences can be difficult to follow.

•  Use active voice: Active voice is generally easier to understand than passive voice.

2. Proper Formatting:

• Headings and subheadings: Use headings and subheadings to break up your content and make it easier to scan.

• Lists and bullet points: Lists and bullet points can help organize information and make it more visually appealing.

• White space: Use plenty of white space to make your content easier to read.

3. Alternative Text for Images:

• Provide descriptive alt text: Alt text should accurately describe the image and its purpose.

• Use alt text for decorative images: Even decorative images should have alt text to avoid screen reader users being interrupted by irrelevant descriptions.

4. Closed Captions and Transcripts:

• Caption videos: Add closed captions to make your videos accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Provide transcripts: For audio content, provide a transcript so that people can read along or listen at a different speed.

5. Color Contrast:

• Use sufficient color contrast: Ensure that there is enough contrast between text and background colors to make it easy to read.

• Consider color blindness: Choose color combinations that are accessible to people with color blindness.

6. Mobile-Friendly Design:

• Optimize for mobile: Ensure that your content is easy to read and navigate on mobile devices.

• Use responsive design: Use responsive design to automatically adjust your website's layout to different screen sizes.

7. Link Descriptions:

• Descriptive link text: Use descriptive link text that indicates where the link leads.

• Avoid generic link text: Avoid using generic link text like "click here" or "learn more."

8. Readability Testing:

• Use readability tools: Use tools like Hemingway Editor or Grammarly to check the readability of your content.

• Aim for a grade level of 8th grade or lower: This will help ensure that your content is accessible to a wide range of readers.

Additional Tips:

• Test your content: Regularly test your content with assistive technologies to ensure that it is accessible to everyone.

• Get feedback: Ask people with disabilities to review your content and provide feedback.

• Stay updated: Keep up-to-date with the latest accessibility guidelines and best practices.

By following these tips, you can create content that is inclusive and accessible to everyone. Not only will you be doing the right thing, but you'll also be reaching a wider audience and building a stronger brand.