5 Essential Steps to Creating Accessible Content for Your Audience

Ensuring your content is accessible to your entire audience isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a necessity. With about 61 million adults in the U.S. — or 1 in 4 — living with a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), content that isn’t designed with accessibility in mind can unintentionally exclude valuable people in your audience. Whether your audience members have visual, hearing, or dexterity-related disabilities, making your content easy to access means it can reach and engage everyone. 

Here are five steps to create truly inclusive and accessible content. 

1. Focus on Fonts and Contrast 

Fonts and color contrast play a crucial role in how well people can read your content. For both print and digital publications:

• Use legible fonts: Opt for sans-serif fonts (think Arial or Calibri). Sans-serif options are easier to read, especially for people with dyslexia or vision impairments. Avoid overly decorative fonts for body text.
• Choose the right font size: Make sure the text is large enough for comfortable reading. A minimum of 12–14 points is ideal for print, and digital text should allow users to adjust the size.
• Create high contrast: Ensure strong contrast between text and background, such as black text on a white background. This makes the content readable for people with low vision or in poor lighting conditions. (See example below.)
• Use legible fonts: Opt for sans-serif fonts (think Arial or Calibri). Sans-serif options are easier to read, especially for people with dyslexia or vision impairments. Avoid overly decorative fonts for body text.

2. Optimize Layout for Easy Reading

Make it easy for readers to find their way around your publication, whether print or digital. This is especially helpful for readers with cognitive disabilities or those using assistive technologies like screen readers.

• Use clear headings and subheadings: Organize content with descriptive headings. This helps readers navigate long sections of text more easily.
• Use generous line spacing: The line spacing should be at least 1.5 times the font size. This allows readers to follow along without feeling overwhelmed by tightly packed text.
• Avoid justified text: For readability, choose left-aligned text. Justified text, with its right-aligned margin, can create irregular spaces that make reading difficult. See example:

3. Add Alternative Text for Images and Visuals

For digital publications, always include alternative (alt) text for images so that people who use screen readers can understand the visual content.

• Include descriptive alt text: Ensure all images, diagrams, and charts in your digital documents have meaningful alt text. This should explain what the image shows, not just that there is an image.
• Use accessible PDF tagging: When creating PDFs, use tools to add accessibility tags, which allow screen readers to navigate the document effectively.

4. Provide Audio and Interactive Features

Offering content in multiple formats can significantly improve accessibility. This is especially helpful for people who have difficulty reading or prefer to consume content in different ways.

• Offer audio versions: Consider providing an audio version of your content for those who have difficulty reading or prefer listening.
• Include video captions and transcripts: If your publication includes videos, make sure they include captions and provide transcripts to accommodate people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Implement interactive navigation: Use tables of contents, bookmarks, and search functions in digital formats to help readers find what they’re looking for more quickly.

5. Test for Accessibility

Accessibility should always be tested to ensure that your content works for a diverse audience.

• Use accessibility tools: Test your digital content with screen readers, color contrast analyzers, and other accessibility tools to catch any potential issues.
• Involve people with disabilities: Whenever possible, ask individuals living with disabilities to test your content’s accessibility and ensure that your publication meets real-world accessibility needs.

Ready to tap into BackPocket’s expertise in creating accessible content that everyone can easily consume? Reach out!