Create Accessible Content

Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated October 20, 2025
Accessibility in educational materials is not just a legal requirement—it is a moral and professional imperative. Every student deserves equal access to learning, and for students with visual impairments, dyslexia, or other disabilities, inaccessible materials can create significant barriers.
​​Unfortunately, many widely used resources—such as PDFs that are scanned as images, screenshots, or locked files—prevent students from using screen readers, magnifiers, or other assistive technologies. This can leave students unable to engage with lessons, complete assignments, or demonstrate understanding. Inaccessible content affects not only students with disabilities but also those who rely on alternative learning methods, including English learners and students who benefit from text-to-speech tools.

Why Accessible Content Matters

  1. Equity and Inclusion: Accessible materials allow all students to participate fully, fostering an inclusive classroom environment.
  2. Compliance with Law: Schools must meet standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
  3. Better Learning Outcomes: Students who can independently access content are more engaged, confident, and successful academically.
  4. Professional Credibility: As educators and content creators, providing accessible resources reflects high-quality, thoughtful practice.

Common Accessibility Barriers

  • Screenshots of text or tables: These appear as images, which screen readers cannot interpret.
  • Locked or scanned PDFs: Prevent users from copying text or using assistive technologies.
  • Color-dependent information: Important instructions or answers conveyed only in color are inaccessible to students with color blindness.
  • Complex layouts: Multi-column documents or tables without proper structure can confuse screen readers.

How to Create Accessible Materials

1. Use Text-Based Documents
  • Create files in Word, Google Docs, or PowerPoint rather than screenshots or scanned PDFs.
  • Ensure text is selectable and readable by screen readers.
2. Use Proper Headings and Structure
  • Organize content with headings (H1, H2, H3) for logical navigation.
  • Use bullet points or numbered lists instead of embedded images of lists.
3. Add Alt Text to Images
  • Describe the purpose and content of images, graphs, and charts.
  • Keep alt text concise but informative.
4. Ensure Color Contrast
  • Use high-contrast colors for text and backgrounds.
  • Avoid conveying information solely through color—add labels or symbols.
5. Use Accessible PDFs
  • If distributing PDFs, ensure they are tagged PDFs with text that can be read by screen readers.
  • Avoid password-protecting or locking PDFs in ways that block accessibility.
6. Provide Multiple Formats
  • Offer materials in Word or Google Docs alongside PDFs.
  • Consider audio versions or large-print versions for students with low vision.
7. Test Your Materials
  • Use free tools like the WAVE Accessibility Checker or Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Checker to ensure documents are readable by assistive technology.
  • If possible, ask a colleague or student using assistive technology to review your materials.

Solutions for Existing Content

  • Convert scanned PDFs to OCR (Optical Character Recognition) text.
  • Replace screenshots with editable, text-based tables or images with alt text.
  • Reformat multi-column layouts into single-column structures for easier reading.
​Creating accessible content benefits all learners and supports your professional responsibility as an educator or content creator. By designing materials that everyone can use, you ensure equity, improve learning outcomes, and demonstrate commitment to inclusive education. Small adjustments—like using text-based files, alt text, and accessible PDFs—have a significant impact on student access and success.

Video Tutorials on Creating Accessible Content

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