Readability is one of the 10 fundamental concepts that can support digital accessibility in all of your content.
Make sure your message reaches a wide audience by considering the readability of your content. Use plain language by avoiding jargon, spelling out acronyms on first use, and keeping paragraphs and sentences short. You can use tools like the Hemingway App to check and adjust the reading level of your content. For most public-facing content, we recommend a 9th-grade reading level.
Content structure and styling can enhance readability.
Headings
Use descriptive, unique headings for different content sections to help readers skim content to find what they need quickly.
Bullet points
Bullet points and content summaries also make content more digestible. When using bullet points, be sure to tag them as unordered lists or use the bullet points from the styles panel in document editors so that they are described accurately by screen readers.
Content spacing
Give all of your content the space it needs. Cluttered, dense content can quickly become overwhelming and add to the audience’s cognitive load. Try to present your audience with a manageable amount of information by grouping related content together in content blocks and leaving sufficient blank page space between sections and lines of text.
- Use plain language
- Support skimming with headings, bullet points, and content summaries
- Content spacing: Communicate content sections through spacing and layout
Fundamentals
Download the checklist
Download our digital accessibility fundamentals checklist PDF to help you keep track of the core principles of accessibility while creating and editing digital resources.
The Center for User Experience
At the Center for User Experience, we are committed to working with you to make digital spaces more accessible, usable and inclusive for all students, faculty and staff at UW–Madison. We help the university follow its Digital Accessibility Policy by offering free evaluation and consultation services to all UW–Madison community members. For guidance on complying with digital accessibility requirements, visit Digital accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Get in touch
- Meet with us: Book a quick chat with one of our team members to ask any questions you have.
- Start a project with us: We support accessible design and development. Fill out our Let’s Connect form to begin working with us on your project or to request an accessibility evaluation.
- Email us: Not sure if you’re ready to meet? Email us to start talking and figure out what to do next.