Content accessibility checklists

Website articles, blogs, event posts

• Clear headings, short paragraphs, and plain language.
• Ensure strong colour contrast and readable fonts.
• Add alt text for all images and meaningful captions under images.
• Use descriptive links – avoid “read more” and avoid relying on colour alone for emphasis.
• Structure content logically with proper HTML headings (H2 main headings, H3 subheadings).
• Provide transcripts or captions for multimedia. Keep layouts simple, consistent, and easy to navigate.

Example of inaccessible content: https://studentsunionucl.org/inaccessible-content-example
Example of accessible content: https://studentsunionucl.org/recycle-your-old-tech-and-help-students-facing-financial-hardship

Social media posts 

• Language is clear and concise.
• Use high-contrast visuals and add alt text or image descriptions for photos and graphics.
• Capitalise each word in hashtags for screen readers (#DisabilityHistoryMonth).
• Avoid using emojis in place of words and keep them at the end of sentences.
• Add captions or subtitles to videos and provide transcripts when possible.
• Ensure links are descriptive and easy to understand.

Emails

• Clear subject lines
• Short paragraphs
• Plain language.
• Use a readable font and good colour contrast. Add meaningful headings and avoid relying on colour alone for emphasis.
• Include descriptive links (e.g., “Read the report” instead of “Click here”).
• Add alt text to images and ensure the message is understandable without them.
• Keep formatting simple, and avoid long blocks of text.

Videos

• Captioning videos
• Adding alternative text to images (alt text description)
• Using emojis and hashtags more efficiently
• Copying/pasting the captions (script) into the post for those who use screen readers and Braille readers.
• Making smart colour choices
• Linking the right words, not "click here" or "here" or "read more."

Canva content

• High-contrast colours, clear fonts, and simple layouts.
• Add alt text to all images and graphics so screen-reader users understand the visuals. Ensure text is large enough and avoid placing important information inside images.
• Use descriptive headings, avoid colour-only labels, and check reading order so content makes sense when read aloud.
• Provide captions or transcripts for videos.
• Keep language clear and concise

Internal documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc)

• Use clear, consistent headings and logical structure
• Provide alt text for all images, charts, and icons
• Ensure high colour contrast and avoid colour-only meaning
• Use readable fonts and sufficient text size
• Add slide titles to every PowerPoint slide
• Use built-in accessibility checkers (Word, PowerPoint)
• Write descriptive hyperlink text (avoid “click here”)
• Ensure tables have headers and simple layout
• Provide captions or transcripts for embedded media
• Test with screen readers before distribution