Heading structure
- Page has one clear H1 that names the topic
- Headings follow a logical outline (H1 → H2 → H3, no skipped levels)
- No empty headings
- Heading text describes the section, not generic labels like "More" or "Section"
- Heading levels are chosen for structure, not font size
- Reading only the headings gives a clear picture of the page content
Alt text for images
- Informative images have useful alt text that describes what matters
- Decorative images use empty alt text so screen readers skip them
- Linked images describe the destination or action, not just the picture
- No filename-like alt text (IMG_2049.jpg)
- No generic alt text ("photo", "image", "graphic")
- Charts and infographics have a text alternative or data table nearby
Link text
- Link text describes the destination or action
- No vague links like "click here," "read more," or "learn more" used repeatedly
- Links make sense when read out of context
- Document links include file format and size where practical
Documents and PDFs
- PDFs are tagged for accessibility where possible
- No scanned image PDFs published without text alternatives
- HTML alternatives are offered alongside PDFs where practical
- File names are meaningful (not "document-final-v3.pdf")
Embedded media
- Videos have accurate captions (not just auto-generated)
- Audio content has a text transcript
- Embedded content is keyboard accessible where testable
TABLES
- Tables use header rows to label columns
- No empty cells without explanation
- Tables are not used for visual layout
- A caption or heading explains what the table shows
Plain language
- Content uses clear, everyday language
- Acronyms are spelled out on first use
- Instructions are understandable on the first read
- Jargon is avoided or explained
Preview and publish workflow
- Read only the heading outline before publishing. Does it make sense?
- Run the website accessibility checker after major content changes
- Use the heading structure checker on new template content
- Use the alt text checker to review all new images
- Fix flagged issues before the next content publishing cycle
See the content editor guide for detailed guidance, or read what automation misses.