Accessibility Quick-Start Checklist

Before You Publish Anything

These ten checks apply to documents, slides, web pages, email, and course content alike. They are ordered by how often each problem appears in real CMC content.

• Use real heading styles. Apply Heading 1, 2, 3 from your tool's styles menu. Never fake a heading by bolding text or increasing font size.
• Do not skip heading levels. One Heading 1 for the title, Heading 2 for sections, Heading 3 for subsections, in order.
• Give every meaningful image alt text. Describe what the image communicates, not that it is an image.
• Mark decorative images as decorative. Leave the alt text blank and tick the decorative box. Never omit the alt attribute entirely.
• Write descriptive link text. The link text should make sense read on its own. Replace “click here” and “read more” with the destination.
• Use real lists. Use the bulleted or numbered list button, not manually typed hyphens, asterisks, or numbers.
• Set header rows on tables. Mark the first row as a header row so screen readers announce column names. Avoid merged cells.
• Check colour contrast. Body text needs 4.5:1 against its background; large text and UI components need 3:1.
• Never use colour alone to convey meaning. Add a label, icon, or pattern alongside the colour.
• Caption your video. Auto-captions are a starting point, not a finished product — review and correct them before sharing.

Where to Go Next, by Format

Each guide covers the same principles in the specific tool you are using.