STEP 2: Making Your Course Accessible
Prioritize the main task of improving student access to your specific courses.
Get started with these seven practical ways to make your course more accessible.
- Structured Headings
- Descriptive Links
- Accessible Tables
- Color Contrast
- Alternative Text
- Multimedia Captions & Transcripts
- Native Text PDFs vs Scanned Images
- CELT Accessibility Checklist
Structure Headings
Structured Headings for Easy Navigation
Structured headings help screen readers navigate content and improves clarity for all learners.
Best practices
- Use H1 to H6 in order
- Keep headings clear & descriptive
- Don’t skip heading levels
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Descriptive Links 
Descriptive Links for Clear Context
All hyperlinks must use descriptive text.
Example of Inaccessible Link Text
Example of an Accessible Link Text
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Accessible Tables
Tables are for Data, Not Design
Avoid: Merged cells and complex layout structures for tables.
Screen readers lose row/column context.
Best Practice: Simple grid structure. Always use defined Column Headers or Rows.
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Color Contrast
Color Cannot Stand Alone
Normal Vision – Assignments marked in red are due this week.
Grayscale Simulation – Assignments marked in red are due this week.
The Fix – Assignments marked with Due This Week are due this week.
The Ratio Gauge
Rule: Normal text must meet a 5.5:1 contrast ratio against its background.
Avoid light gray text or colored text on colored backgrounds.
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Alternative Text
Alternative Text: The Essentials
- Never write “Image of” or “Picture of” (screen readers announce this automatically).
- Be concise and describe the core purpose.
- Mark visual dividers or background graphics as Decorative to skip screen reader interruption.
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Multimedia Captions & Transcripts
Multimedia: Captions & Transcripts
Captions assist deaf/hard of hearing students, non-native English speakers, and students in noisy environments.
Captions must be:
- Accurate: Auto-generated captions must always be reviewed and corrected.
- Synchronized: Text must match the audio timing perfectly.
- Complete: Captures all meaningful dialogue and sound cues.
Audio Rule:
Podcasts, lectures, and recorded interviews must include an attached text Transcript
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Native Text PDFs vs Scanned Images
PDFs: Native text, NOT scanned images
Accessible PDFs require native, machine-readable text rather than scanned images of text. Scanned documents are essentially images, which screen readers and other assistive technologies cannot interpret or extract words from effectively.
- Check if your PDF has tags
- Review reading order and tags
- Ensure image accessibility
- Set file properties
Microlearning Module