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Top 10 Accessibility Tips

The W3C provides the following ten "Quick Tips" which summarize key concepts of accessible Web design. These tips are not complete guidelines; they are only excerpts of concepts from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG 1.0).

For more information on how to make websites accessible please visit http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/QuickTips/. The site includes implementation guidance, explanations, strategies, and detailed markup examples.

  1. Images and animations: Use the alt attribute to describe the function of each visual.
  2. Image maps: Use the client-side map and text for hotspots.
  3. Multimedia: Provide captioning and transcripts of audio, and descriptions of video.
  4. Hypertext links: Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example, avoid "click here."
  5. Page organization: Use headings, lists, and consistent structure. Use CSS for layout and style where possible.
  6. Graphs and charts: Summarize or use the longdesc attribute.
  7. Scripts, applets, and plug-ins: Provide alternative content in case active features are inaccessible or unsupported.
  8. Frames: Use the noframes element and meaningful titles.
  9. Tables: Make line-by-line reading sensible. Summarize.
  10. Check your work: Use tools, checklist, and guidelines at validator.w3.org and http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG