Accessibility Practices
Use the following accessibility practices to make emails accessible and improve usability for everyone.
- Write in plain language, avoiding jargon.
- Use a descriptive subject line.
- Use heading styles to format and organize text.
- Use properly formatted lists.
- Write link text that helps users know something about their destination if they click on it.
- Avoid phrases like “click here,” “learn more,” and “read more.”
- Always underline links for quick identification.
- Do not underline non-link text.
- Visit WebAIM’s article on Link Text and Appearance to learn more.
- Watch the Microsoft video on creating accessible links in Word.
- Ensure the contrast ratio between text color and the background color is at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
- Avoid gold on white: Accessible Text & Color.
- Visit the Check Accessibility webpage for a list of contrast checkers.
- Do not use color as the only method to convey meaning.
- Include an additional descriptive component such as text, patterns, or shapes.
- Learn more about Contrast and Color Accessibility (WebAIM).
- Provide alt text for images and non-text objects that have meaning.
- Keep the alt text short and descriptive.
- Mark images and objects as decorative that don’t add information to the content.
- The W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative states, “Whether to treat an image as decorative or informative is a judgment only the author can make, based on the reason for including the image on the page.”
- Avoid using images with text.
- Find out everything you need to know to write effective alt text from Microsoft.
- Learn how to write alt text and image descriptions for the visually impaired from the Perkins School for the Blind.
- Watch a video from Microsoft on how to add alt text to images and objects in Office.
- Use the Alternative (Alt) Text Guide by The Ohio State University
- Use a simple table structure.
- Avoid merging or splitting cells and use nested tables when possible.
- Define header row for data tables.
Check for Accessibility
As you design, develop, or create digital content, always check accessibility.