Accessible images and your social media posts
Find out how you can make your social media images accessible to ALL your followers.
Accessibility articles
WCAG 2.1 summary for web writers
This summary is for web content managers, editors and writers. It's limited to level A and AA guidelines relevant to content production.
Are you swapping PDF for Word?
Have you been advised to replace PDF documents with Word, because Word is more accessible?
Accessible content for social media
Do you know how to make your social media posts accessible? In this article, we discuss ways to reduce accessibility barriers when writing posts, sharing links, and posting images and video.
Long descriptions for images - part 2
Long descriptions are text alternatives for complex or detailed images. In this article we look at some examples: charts and graphs, maps and plans, infographics, diagrams and technical drawings.
Long descriptions for images - part 1
In this article, we look at the role of long descriptions for images. Why you need them and how to implement them.
2 useful tools for web writers
Here are 2 free tools that are simple to use. They'll help you write better content for your organisation's website, intranet or blog.
When is an image 'purely decorative'?
Accessibility guidelines require us to let assistive technologies ignore 'purely decorative' images. Sounds simple enough, but sometimes it's hard to decide when an image is purely decorative. In this article we argue that blank text alternatives are often best.
Reducing reliance on PDF documents online
Some organisations publish large amounts of their online content as PDF documents. But PDF is rarely chosen because it's been assessed as the best format for the content. In this article we discuss ways to reduce reliance on PDF.
Text alternatives for images with captions
We need a text alternative for informative or functional images. But what should we do when the image also needs a caption? In this article we discuss the options.
A-Z of better web writing
If you want to write better web content, here's an A-Z that should help. It covers attributes of quality content and other issues web writers should be aware of.
Don't let your CMS wreck your content - part 2
A CMS can create problems for your content if you let it generate file names or text alternatives for images. This article discusses system behaviour to watch out for.
Writing for the web versus print
Good writing is good writing, regardless of the medium. So what makes writing for the web different to writing for print? In this article, we discuss one key difference — technical knowledge.
Consistent identification - accessibility for web writers
Use icons, and particularly their text alternatives, consistently throughout your content.
Pronunciation - accessibility for web writers
Provide a pronunciation for words that are spelt the same, but mean different things when pronounced in different ways.
Reading level - accessibility for web writers
The accessibility guidelines require grade 9 readability for content. Otherwise we should provide supplementary content (visuals, for example), or an easy-to-read summary.
Abbreviations - accessibility for web writers
The accessibility guidelines require we expand or define any abbreviations in our content. Often it's even better to avoid using abbreviations, especially acronyms and initialisms.
Unusual words - accessibility for web writers
The accessibility guidelines require that we explain or define any jargon, idioms or unusual words in our content. Often it's even better to avoid using those words.
Language of parts - accessibility for web writers
If you use foreign language words or phrases in your content, you need to identify the foreign language using the lang attribute.
Section headings - accessibility for web writers
Use headings to organise the sections or topics within an article or document. Headings break content into more manageable chunks, making a page or topic easier to understand.
Headings and labels - accessibility for web writers
Write descriptive headings, sub-headings and labels. This will help users understand what your content is about, decide if it is relevant and go directly to the information they are looking for.
Link purpose - accessibility for web writers
Write links that clearly describe their purpose or content. Meaningful links are vital for making content more accessible to people with disabilities.
Page titles - accessibility for web writers
Write a descriptive title for your web pages and any documents you publish online. You'll help people find your content if your title is meaningful to them.
Change on request - accessibility for web writers
Avoid opening links in new windows. If you must, include a warning within the link.
Images of text - accessibility for web writers
Use styled text rather than an image of text wherever it's technically possible. An image of text is allowed when users can customise the text style or an image is essential.
Contrast - accessibility for web writers
Use colours that offer a sufficient contrast ratio between text and background colours, unless the text is decorative, incidental or part of a logo.
3 flashes or below threshold - accessibility for web writers
Don't use images that flash more than three times per second unless the colours are dim enough to reduce the likelihood of causing a seizure.
Colour - accessibility for web writers
Don't use colour alone to convey information because not everyone has normal colour vision. For most web writers, this means being careful about choosing images. But you may also need to be careful about applying colour to text.
Sensory characteristics - accessibility for web writers
Don't write instructions that rely on things that can only be seen (shape, size, screen location, orientation) or heard. If you do, some of your users won't be able to follow your instructions.
Info and relationships - accessibility for web writers
Use HTML tags to identify certain types of information and show content structure. For instance, use heading tags for heading. In this article, we outline the HTML tags web writers need to know how to use.
Text alternatives - some examples
When writing text alternatives for images you need to consider the role of the image and the context in which it is used.
Text alternatives - a decision tree
To help you write better text alternatives for images, our decision tree asks three main questions. It guides you in choosing a short, long or blank text alternative.
Text alternatives - accessibility for web writers
Text alternatives are one of the most basic requirements for accessibility, but also one of the most misunderstood.
Introduction - accessibility for web writers
Introduction to a 19-part series on accessibility for web writers, based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.
Writing text alternatives for maps
Images of maps need a text alternative. This article discusses how to write text alternatives for simple and complex images of maps.
Don't forget the 'C' in WCAG - a resolution for the new year
With the likely adoption of WCAG 2.0 (the second version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) in Australia, organisations might be reviewing their website design and templates to meet the new standards in 2010. What they might forget though, is to check their content or update the skills of those who produce it.
Content still king? Not in WCAG 2.0
The new accessibility guidelines are disappointing. They do little to foster quality content. They seem weaker on content standards than the earlier version.