GUIDE TO ACCESSIBILITY BEST PRACTICE
GUIDE TO ACCESSIBILITY BEST PRACTICE
Why accessibility matters
Accessible content ensures everyone can understand, use, and enjoy what you create — including people with disabilities, neurodivergent users, older audiences, and those using assistive technologies. It’s good practice, good ethics, and increasingly a legal requirement.
Clear, Simple Content
Use plain language – avoid jargon where possible
Keep sentences and paragraphs short
Use clear headings to structure information
Explain acronyms on first use
Write for understanding, not cleverness
Visual Design & Layout
Ensure strong colour contrast between text and background
Never rely on colour alone to convey meaning
Use legible font sizes (minimum 16px for body text)
Allow plenty of white space
Avoid cluttered layouts or overlapping elements
Images & Graphics
Provide alt text for all meaningful images
Decorative images should be marked as decorative
Avoid embedding important text inside images
Use icons alongside text labels, not instead of them
Video & Audio Content
Provide accurate captions for all videos
Include audio description where visuals carry meaning
Avoid flashing or rapidly moving content
Ensure players can be controlled via keyboard
Links & Navigation
Use descriptive link text (not “click here”)
Make sure links are visually distinct
Ensure content can be navigated by keyboard only
Keep menus consistent and predictable
Forms & Interactive Elements
Label all form fields clearly
Provide clear instructions and error messages
Avoid time limits where possible
Ensure buttons are large and easy to activate
Testing & Ongoing Improvement
Test content with screen readers where possible
Use accessibility checkers — but don’t rely on them alone
Get feedback from real users
Accessibility is not a one-off task — it’s an ongoing commitment
Accessibility Mindset (The Big One)
Accessible content is better content.
It’s clearer, calmer, more inclusive — and benefits everyone.