The 7 Core Principles of Digital Accessibility

Inspired by Northwestern University's Digital Accessibility Guidelines

1. Headings

Use clear and structured headings to organize your content. This not only helps with readability but is also crucial for users of screen readers to navigate the page. Headings should be used in a hierarchical order (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to create a logical outline of the content.

2. Links

Make link text descriptive and meaningful on its own. Avoid using generic phrases like "click here" or "learn more." The link text should accurately describe the destination. This helps users, especially those using assistive technologies, understand the context of the link without needing to read the surrounding text.

3. Images

Provide alternative text (alt text) for all meaningful images. Alt text should be a concise description of the image's content or function. For purely decorative images, use null alt text (alt="") so that screen readers can ignore them. This ensures that visually impaired users can understand the visual information on the page.

4. Color and Contrast

Ensure there is sufficient contrast between text color and its background color. This is vital for users with low vision or color blindness. Additionally, color should not be the only means of conveying information. Use other visual cues like text labels, patterns, or icons to supplement color.

5. Lists

Use proper list formatting for all lists. Use ordered lists for sequential information and unordered lists for items that do not have a specific order. Proper list structure helps screen readers announce the number of items in the list, making the content easier to comprehend.

6. Tables

Use tables for presenting tabular data, not for layout purposes. Ensure that tables have clear headers for columns and/or rows. This allows screen reader users to understand the relationship between the cells and their corresponding headers, making complex data accessible.

7. Media

Provide captions and transcripts for all video and audio content. Captions are essential for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, while transcripts benefit a wider audience, including those who prefer to read the content. For videos, also consider providing audio descriptions for visually impaired users.