Web Accessibility Made Easy: Essential Best Practices for Content Editors

2024 updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reaffirmed that public entities, including George Mason University, must provide fully accessible digital experiences by April 2026.

Digital accessibility ensures that websites, apps, and other digital tools are usable by everyone. Accessible content allows people to perceive, navigate, and interact with information in ways that meet their needs.

 

Accessible Content Is SEO Friendly

Accessibility best practices support search engine optimization (SEO) principles. Follow these best practices to create content that is both inclusive and effective.

 

1. Use Plain Language

Plain language improves accessibility by making content easier to read and understand for a wide range of users, including those with cognitive disabilities or who use screen readers. Avoid jargon, complex sentences, and unnecessary words. The goal is to make sure everyone, regardless of ability, can easily understand your content.

Tip: Write in short, clear sentences. If you need to explain a complex idea, break it down into smaller parts and provide definitions where necessary.

 

2. Organize Content in Small, Logical Blocks

Breaking content into short paragraphs or bullet points helps readers process information more easily. For those using screen readers or adaptive technology, this structure improves navigation and comprehension.

Tip: Lists and bullet points are great for organizing related information, making it scannable and easier to follow.

 

3. Use Headings to Organize and Optimize

Correctly ordered headings (e.g., H2 for sections, H3 for subsections, and so on) are essential for both visual organization and accessibility. Page titles are automatically formatted as H1 on both the SiteMasonry CMS and Mason WordPress platforms. When formatting page content, use H2 for main sections and H3 or H4 for subsections. This allows assistive technologies, like screen readers, to interpret the structure of the page properly and provide users with a smooth navigation experience.

Tip: ‘Nest’ headings in an ordered sequence (H2 for main sections, H3 for subsections) to improve the accessibility and usability of your content.

 

4. Unlock Image Accessibility with Alt Text

Images must have a companion text interpretation, referred to as alternative (alt) text, which clearly conveys the image's purpose or subject. Image alt text is crucial for users with visual impairments, as it allows screen readers to describe the image making visual content accessible to all visitors.

Tip: Be concise but descriptive—think about the image’s function on the page and what key details users need to know if they cannot see it.

 

5. Ensure Link Text is Clear and Meaningful

Avoid generic phrases like “Click here” for link text. Instead, make sure the link text describes where the link will take the user or what action they will complete, making it easier for both screen reader users and others to understand the link's purpose.

Tip: Use specific language like “Learn more about George Mason’s accessibility guidelines” rather than “Click here.”

 

6. Tables are for Data

Only use tables to organize tabular data. Never use a table for visual layout.

Tip: Include clear labels for columns and rows and ensure the table is easy to understand without visual formatting cues.  
 

Additional Resources 

• George Mason’s Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) - Accessibility Resources and Tools
• Section508.gov - Article: Content Creation: Authoring Meaningful Alternative Text
• ADA.gov Fact Sheet - New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1
• Section508.gov - Download ANDI - Accessible Name & Description Inspector Tool