5 accessibility wins you can make today

Content editors have tremendous power to make digital content more accessible—without needing to touch a single line of HTML. These are such easy changes and can deliver such big improvements, they are worth knowing and adopting. As someone who regularly publishes content online, web editors are on the front lines of digital accessibility.

Here are five high-impact practices that will make your content more accessible to everyone.

1. Clear hierarchy

Think of your content like a well-organised book. Just as a book has chapters, sections, and paragraphs, your digital content needs a clear structure:

• Use your CMS's heading options consistently (Heading 1 for page title, Heading 2 for major sections, Heading 3 for subsections)

• Break walls of text into scannable, logical sections

• Keep paragraphs focused on a single idea

• Use bulleted and numbered lists when presenting multiple items or steps

Important note: I often see editors skip heading levels (like jumping from H2 to H4) because they prefer how the smaller heading looks visually. This breaks the logical structure of your page and creates significant problems for screen reader users who rely on this hierarchy to understand and navigate content. Remember: headings are about organisation and hierarchy first, visual styling second. If you really feel the style isn’t right, let your web team or manager know.

This structure helps everyone navigate your content more easily, but it's especially crucial for screen reader users who rely on headings to jump between sections of your page.

2. Thoughtful image descriptions

Images add visual interest and context to your content, but not everyone experiences them the same way. When adding images through your CMS:

• Always fill in the alt text field with a concise description of what the image shows and why it matters

• For complex images like charts or infographics, include more detailed descriptions in your main text

• If an image is purely decorative and adds no meaningful information, leave two double quotes in the alt text (if your CMS provides this option) so the screen reader knows to skip the description.

Remember: good alt text doesn't just say what an image shows—it conveys why the image matters in context.

3. Understandable and readable text

Accessibility isn't just about accommodating specific disabilities—it's about making content understandable to everyone:

• Write in plain language, aiming for an Year 8 (14 year old) reading level when possible

• Define technical terms, jargon, and acronyms on first use

• Present your most important information first

• Use active voice and direct address to make content more engaging

• Break up complex ideas into digestible chunks

When you simplify the language, you're not "dumbing down" your content—you're making it more efficient and effective for everyone, including busy readers, non-native English speakers, and people with cognitive disabilities.

4. Descriptive and meaningful links

Links are pathways through content, and their text should clearly signal where they lead:

• Never use generic phrases like "click here" or "read more"

• Make link text descriptive of the destination ("View our 2023 accessibility report" rather than "View report")

• Ensure links are visually distinct from surrounding text (your CMS likely handles this automatically) with enough room to tap or target with cursors being operated via assistive tools like the joysticks used by some website visitors

• Group related links together for easier navigation

Descriptive links help all users, but they're essential for screen reader users who often navigate pages by scanning available links.

5. Accessible documents and media

Responsibility extends beyond web pages to the documents and media you create and share online:

• Always provide transcripts or captions for audio and video content

• Run accessibility checks on documents before uploading them (Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat have built-in checkers)

• Structure tables properly with header rows clearly identified (don’t use tables for layout)

• Avoid using only colour, font changes, or other visual formatting to convey important information

The ripple effect of accessible content

When implementing these practices, you're not just helping people with disabilities—you're creating content that works better for everyone. Think of the person reading your content on a phone while walking, someone using a poor internet connection, or a busy professional quickly scanning for key information.

The most beautiful aspect of content accessibility is how these practices make your writing clearer, more organised, and more effective for all readers. Accessible content is simply better content.

This article is part of our ongoing series on content management fundamentals.