Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation

Five Ways to Improve Digital Accessibility

Here are five practical things you can do to improve digital accessibility and ensure your content is usable by people of all abilities. By applying these simple but effective strategies, you create a more inclusive digital experience that benefits everyone.

 

Add Alternative Text to All Images 

Use concise, descriptive alt text for all meaningful images. For decorative images, mark them as decorative. This ensures that students using screen readers can understand visual content. Utilize this resource for everything you need to know to write effective alt text.

Use Descriptive Hyperlinks

Write link text that clearly describes the destination, such as writing "Review our available scholarships" instead of "Click here." Descriptive hyperlinks improve clarity for all users, especially those using assistive technology. 

Use Proper Headings in Documents and LMS Content

Apply built-in heading styles (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2) in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Brightspace. Do not use bold or large font alone to indicate structure. Utilize this resource for a tutorial.

Run Accessibility Checkers in Microsoft 365 and Brightspace

Before sharing Word, PowerPoint, or Excel files, use the built-in Check Accessibility tool under the Review tab. 

For Brightspace: Run the Ally Accessibility Checker in Brightspace and fix flagged issues to improve usability for all students. The ideal score is 90% or higher. 

Avoid Using PDFs 

PDFs can be difficult to fix. Use Microsoft Word or HTML formats when possible. If you must use a PDF, ensure it has proper tags, reading order, and pass accessibility checks.  (adobe acrobat video on running accessibility checkers)

 
For More Resources:

Visit the Digital Accessibility Hub for a checklist and FAQ's.