Best Practices for Writing Accessible Educational Resources

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Transform POUR from a checklist into a writing mindset: clarify purpose, avoid sensory-only cues, ensure keyboard operation, and explain interactions. Ask yourself, could a student using only audio, only text, or only keyboard still learn? Comment with examples from your own courses.

Clear Language and Readability that Welcome Everyone

Favor concrete verbs, short sentences, and defined terms. Replace idioms and metaphors with direct explanations. Introduce new vocabulary with examples and consistent usage. Tell us one term you find hard to simplify, and we will propose alternatives in a future post.

Clear Language and Readability that Welcome Everyone

Place key information early, avoid nested clauses, and keep link text meaningful. A student named Maya once told us that reordered, concise sentences cut her reading time in half. Try it, then comment with your before-and-after experience.

Navigable Structure: Headings, Lists, and Landmarks

Heading Hierarchies That Make Sense

Use one H1 per page, then step through H2, H3, and so on without skipping. Headings describe content, not clever jokes. Ask a colleague to navigate using headings only, then report results below—your insights help the community improve.

Lists, Tables, and Data with Context

Introduce lists with a short lead-in. For tables, provide headers, scopes, and summaries, not just formatting. Explain what the data shows before asking for interpretation. Post a tricky table you struggle with, and we’ll share accessible redesign ideas.

Consistent Navigation Across Modules

Keep menus, breadcrumb trails, and button labels consistent across lessons. Predictability supports memory and reduces anxiety. If your learners need a legend to navigate, simplify. Subscribe for our checklist that streamlines course navigation patterns.

Images, Graphics, and Alt Text that Teach

Ask, why is this image here? If decorative, mark it as such. If instructional, state the point succinctly. Avoid redundant phrases like “image of.” Share an image you use often, and we’ll crowdsource alt text ideas in the comments.

Images, Graphics, and Alt Text that Teach

Provide a caption with key insight, a long description with structure, and data tables for details. Aim for comprehension, not exhaustive transcription. What chart confuses your students most? Post it and subscribe to see community solutions.

Accessible Multimedia: Audio, Video, and Interactive Content

Auto-captions are a draft, not a deliverable. Correct terminology, punctuation, and speaker labels. Provide downloadable transcripts for study and search. How do you maintain caption quality at scale? Comment with your workflow and tools for our roundup.

Make Equations Work with Assistive Tech

Prefer MathML or well-structured LaTeX rendered accessibly. Provide verbal explanations of steps and intent. Never rely solely on images of equations. What toolchain do you use? Share it so readers can replicate and subscribe for our setup guides.

Describe Experiments and Diagrams

Explain procedures, variables, and safety using clear sequencing. For diagrams, describe relationships and outcomes, not every visual flourish. Invite students to choose formats that suit them. Post a lab step you clarified and the impact you observed.

Code Samples that Readers Can Navigate

Use semantic markup, monospace fonts, proper indentation, and line numbers with accessible labels. Avoid color-only meaning; add comments that teach. Offer downloadable files. What editor settings help your learners? Comment so others can tune their environments.

Assessment and Feedback for All Learners

Offer extended time when needed, alternative formats, and low-distraction settings. Communicate options early, not after stress begins. Have you tried flexible submission types? Share outcomes and subscribe to receive our adaptable rubric templates.

Test with Real Students Using Assistive Tech

Invite learners who use screen readers, captions, magnification, or switch devices. Observe, listen, and prioritize their experience over assumptions. What did your last user test reveal? Share a takeaway so subscribers can avoid the same pitfalls.

Accessibility Checkers and Manual Reviews

Use automated tools for speed, then verify headings, alt text quality, and focus order manually. Tools catch patterns; humans catch meaning. Which checker do you trust most? Add it in the comments for our community resource list.

Share, Subscribe, and Keep Learning Together

Post your wins and stumbles. Ask for peer reviews. Subscribe for monthly deep dives, templates, and case studies. Together we build materials that welcome every learner, in every context, every time. Join the conversation and invite a colleague today.