Accessible content in practice

Technical accessibility alone is not enough: content must also be accessible to all. Content is the heart of every website. It conveys information, arouses emotions and encourages interaction. But to achieve these goals for all users, it must be perceptible, understandable and usable for all people. This article provides specific tips and assistance on how accessible content can be created and maintained - regardless of the individual abilities or limitations of visitors. Further information on implementing accessibility in design can be found in our article accessible design in practice.

Basics of accessible Content Creation

Accessible content is based on some fundamental principles that ensure that content can be perceived and understood not only by the majority of people, but also by people with disabilities. These principles are crucial for creating an inclusive digital experience:

• Plain language
  Clear and understandable language is the key to accessible content. Complex sentence structures and technical jargon should be avoided. Especially for topics that may be difficult to access, it is important to use concise, easy-to-understand wording. This ensures that all readers, regardless of their background or ability, can easily grasp the content.
• Clear structure
  Content should be divided into manageable sections to ensure good readability. This can be done through meaningful headings and lists that help readers find their way around quickly. A clear structure makes it easier to understand, especially for people who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation.

Text design

In addition to the content design, the visual presentation of texts also plays a decisive role. The following aspects are important to ensure that people with different visual impairments can easily understand the content:

Formatting

The choice of a sufficient font size is crucial for readability. Small fonts, especially in low contrast, are a barrier. A legible font size should be used and it should be ensured that the contrast between text and background is high enough to ensure good legibility. Justification should be avoided as it often leads to uneven word spacing. Flatting ensures better readability and is more user-friendly.

Heading hierarchy

A clear heading structure (H1, H2, H3, etc.) is not only important for the visual impression, but also for the semantic structure of the page. It not only helps users, but also screen readers to understand the content in a meaningful and logical way. A well-structured site enables users to find the relevant information quickly.

Link design

Links should be formulated in such a way that they clearly indicate the content of the linked destination. General expressions such as “click here” or “learn more” should be avoided as they do not provide any helpful information about the destination of the link. Instead, links such as “To the full guide” or “Learn more about accessible web design” should be used. This is particularly important for people with cognitive impairments or for screen reader users.

Images and Multimedia

Multimedia content enriches websites, but can become a barrier for people with visual or hearing impairments. To prevent this, the following measures should be taken:
Alternative texts

Alternative texts

Every image, graphic and diagram must be provided with an alternative text. These descriptions are not only important for people with visual impairments, but also for search engine optimization (SEO), as they make the content of the image comprehensible for crawlers.

Subtitles

Subtitles should be provided for all videos. These enable not only deaf or hard of hearing users to understand the content, but also people who are in noisy environments and cannot hear the sound.

Transcripts

Transcripts are particularly important for audio and video formats. They make it possible to understand the spoken content in written form, which can be helpful for people with hearing impairments as well as for people with cognitive disabilities.

Audio descriptions

For videos that contain visual elements, it is helpful to integrate an audio description. This describes relevant visual information for people with visual impairments and ensures that visual content is also accessible.

Checklists and Tools

Regular accessibility checks are essential to ensure that content is actually accessible for all users. A range of tools and checklists can help to check the accessibility of content:

• A11Y Project Checklist: A comprehensive checklist to help with creating accessible web content.
• Silktide Accessibility Checker: A free browser plugin for analyzing the accessibility of website.
• Aktion Mensch - Step-by-step guide: Numerous instructions and guides for creating accessible content.

However, it is important not to rely solely on tools. They can detect many technical barriers, but not all. The use of real user monitoring and testing, especially with people who rely on accessible content, ensures that real user experiences are also taken into account.

Accessible content is essential

Accessible content is not a “nice-to-have”, but a must for an inclusive digital world. If content is not designed to be accessible, large parts of the target group are potentially excluded. By making content accessible, you ensure that all people - regardless of their individual abilities or limitations - can use the information and services on your website. Accessibility should therefore become an integral part of the content creation process.

Always remember: accessibility is an ongoing process. Content should be regularly reviewed and optimized to ensure that it remains accessible to all. This is the only way to create a truly inclusive digital experience.
With the Accessibility Reinforcement Act (BFSG) coming into force in 2025, it will also become even more important to ensure the accessibility of web content, as companies and public institutions will be under greater obligation to make digital offerings accessible to all users in the future.