Accessibility in content design is not complicated. It’s a checklist. Once you build the habits, it adds minutes to your workflow – not hours. 

Below is a good starting checklist for accessibility in your content. If you’re not the one doing the post-production and uploading, then I advise you to add this to any brief you send to a creative. These are non-negotiable and shouldn’t just be done moving forward, but going backwards and uploading previously posted content is also a worthwhile pursuit. 

The accessible content checklist

Captions on all video Automatic captions are a start but they’re inaccurate – review and correct them. Captions don’t just serve Deaf and hard of hearing audiences. 85% of social media video is watched with the sound off.

Alt text on all images Alt text is the description that screen readers read out for people who can’t see images. Good alt text is specific and relevant: “A support worker and participant exercising together in a gym” not “Image.”

Colour contrast Text over coloured backgrounds must meet WCAG AA contrast ratio requirements. Use a free contrast checker (WebAIM has one) before publishing any designed content.

Plain language Plain language serves people with cognitive disabilities, people with lower literacy levels, people reading in a second language – and frankly everyone.

Readable fonts and sizes Avoid decorative fonts for body text. Minimum 16px for body copy on digital. Adequate line spacing.

Descriptive link text Never use “click here” as link text. Use descriptive text: “read our accessibility statement” or “download the support guide.”

Exercise

Apply the full accessible content checklist to your next piece of content before you publish it. Note which items you had to add after the fact – those are the habits to build into your process.