Hey, content creators! Now that you’ve made great strides in remediating your website for accessibility, it’s time to consider how to keep that momentum going. Creating accessible content isn’t just a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing process. Let’s dive into some best practices that will help your team consistently produce accessible content and ensure your website is welcoming to everyone.

Why Accessibility Matters

Let’s take a moment to understand why digital accessibility is so important. Accessibility means making your content usable for people with disabilities. This can include those who are blind, deaf, or have mobility challenges. When you prioritize accessibility, you’re not just meeting legal requirements but also reaching a wider audience and showing that you care about all your users. This can lead to increased engagement, better SEO, and a positive brand image.

Training Your Team

The first step in creating accessible content is training your team. Everyone involved in content creation needs to understand the basics of accessibility. Consider hosting regular workshops or training sessions to cover key topics. Here are some essential areas to focus on:

Writing Alternative Text

Alternative text, or alt text, is a crucial part of accessibility. It describes images for people who can’t see them. When creating content, ensure your team knows how to write compelling alt text. Here are some tips:

• Be Descriptive: Alt text should describe the image accurately. Instead of saying, “A dog,” say, “A golden retriever is playing fetch in the park.”
• Keep It Concise: Aim for around 125 characters. Be descriptive, but don’t overwhelm the reader.
• Skip Decorative Images: If an image is purely decorative and doesn’t add value to the content, it’s best to leave the alt text blank.

Ensuring Proper Heading Structures

Proper heading structures not only help with readability but are also vital for screen readers. When creating web content, remind your team to use headings hierarchically. Here’s how:

• Use H1 for Titles: The main title of your page should always be an H1 tag.
• H2 for Subheadings: Use H2 tags for major sections and H3 tags for subsections. This creates a clear outline for users and helps them navigate your content.
• Avoid Skipping Headings: Don’t jump from H1 to H4 without using H2 and H3. This can confuse users and screen readers.

Creating Accessible Documents

When creating downloadable content like PDFs or Word documents, keep accessibility in mind as well. Here are some tips:

• Use Headings and Styles: Just like web content, use headings in documents to help structure the information.
• Add Descriptive Links: Ensure that links are descriptive. Instead of saying “click here,” use phrases like “read our accessibility guide.”
• Check Reading Order: In PDFs, the reading order matters. Use accessibility features in your document software to ensure the content reads logically.

Ongoing Review and Feedback

Creating accessible content doesn’t stop once you’ve trained your team. It’s essential to implement an ongoing review process. Here’s how to keep improving:

• Peer Reviews
  • Encourage team members to review each other’s content for accessibility. A fresh set of eyes can catch mistakes that might have been missed. Create a checklist for peer reviews that includes items like alt text, heading structure, and color contrast.
• Feedback from Users
  • If possible, seek feedback from users with disabilities. Their insights can help you identify areas for improvement that you might have yet to consider.
• Stay Updated
  • Digital accessibility guidelines can evolve, so it’s essential to stay informed about best practices. Consider subscribing to accessibility blogs or joining professional organizations that focus on digital accessibility.

Wrapping Up

Accessibility isn’t a one-and-done task—it’s an ongoing commitment that helps you maintain a more inclusive and user-friendly website for everyone. Keeping your content accessible means continually refining your approach, training your team, and staying proactive with the latest best practices. But don’t worry, you don’t have to do it alone! Tools like a11y.Radar make it easier to stay on top of accessibility long after your initial remediation. With real-time monitoring, you can catch issues as they arise, ensuring your website remains compliant and welcoming to all users. So, keep the momentum going and know that you’re building not just a compliant site, but a better experience for every visitor.