Accessibility Checklist

Key considerations for generating new content or evaluating current content.

Text Content

Our websites are mostly made up of text. We must ensure everyone can access and understand the information.

  • Is my language clear and simple?
  • Are my sentences short?
  • Are my paragraphs short?
  • Have I confirmed that readability is at an 8th grade level?
  • Am I labeling sections with built-in headings?
  • Am I labeling tables with built-in column and row headers?
  • Am I using bullet points and numbered lists when appropriate?
  • Are page names, headings, and subheadings uniquely descriptive?
  • Do I explain acronyms the first time they’re used?
  • Are my links descriptive, to state the link's purpose (instead of “click here”)?
  • Do I avoid duplicate links?
  • Do I use actual text instead of images of text?

Images

Images must not be invisible to people with disabilities, and must be usable for everyone.

  • Is the image decorative? Consider removing decorative images for universal accessibility, or identify them as decorative.
  • Does the image contain significant information? Key information within page content or used as a link must be accessible for proper understanding.
  • Does it have alternative text (alt text)?
  • Is the alt text brief (under 120 characters)?
  • Ensure alt text describes the image's function (e.g., "search" instead of “magnifying glass”).
  • Does color contrast of vital parts (text, charts, etc.) meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards?
  • Is long-form text in the image (such as in an infographic) duplicated in HTML text on the page?

Audio and Video

.Accessible audio and video content is informative for everyone, whether created with accessibility in mind or remediated for it.

  • Does the content play automatically, or can it be paused or stopped by the user?
  • Does my video include synchronized captions?
  • Do video captions include supplementary descriptions like laughter, applause, or visual details?
  • Does my audio have a descriptive transcript for people with both auditory and visual disabilities?
  • Does the audio make sense without visuals?

Documents

Typically, it’s best to convert documents to site pages. If keeping specific items as uploaded documents is necessary for a purpose, ensure they are accessible.

Assess with the same specifications as web content, with these additions:

  • Ensure PDFs have a logical reading order using appropriate heading tags (H1, H2, etc.).
  • Use tags to define paragraphs, lists, tables, and other structural elements.
  • Verify that the document's title is correctly set in the metadata.
  • Confirm that all text is selectable and not embedded as images.
  • Use readable fonts and ensure sufficient contrast between text and background.
  • Avoid using color alone to convey information.
  • Provide alternative text descriptions for all informative images.
  • Mark decorative images as artifacts so assistive technologies can ignore them.
  • Ensure charts and graphs have accompanying text descriptions or data tables.
  • Use proper table tags to define rows and columns.
  • Include header rows and ensure they are correctly tagged.
  • Avoid using tables for layout purposes.
  • Ensure all form fields are interactive and properly tagged.
  • Provide clear labels for each form field.
  • Include instructions and error messages that are accessible to screen readers.
  • Use descriptive link text that clearly indicates the destination.
  • Ensure bookmarks and a table of contents are present for longer documents.
  • Verify that all internal and external links are functional.
  • Set the document's primary language in the metadata.
  • Include relevant metadata such as author, subject, and keywords.
  • Ensure that security settings do not interfere with assistive technologies.
  • Avoid using passwords or restrictions that prevent screen readers from accessing content.
  • Use an accessibility checker to identify and fix issues before publishing.
  • Export all documents for accessibility.