About Website Accessibility
The University website is a primary source of information, services and resources accessed daily by hundreds of site visitors. To serve our audiences, web content must be accessible so all users, including those with disabilities, can access the information they need. It also supports the University’s efforts to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
Did you know? Best practices for website accessibility can be applied to other facets of digital accessibility, including document accessibility.
Browse topics:
Headings
Headings are used to organize sections of information on webpages. Organization is achieved through the use of six heading levels, of which must follow a heading hierarchy.
Did you know? Screen reader users can browse webpages by moving through a list of available headings. When headings are applied in proper order, it makes finding information on webpages faster.
- Provide headings on your webpages for easier navigation.
- Ensure proper heading order is followed.
- Treat each heading level as a unique section or subsection.
- Do NOT skip heading levels.
- Do NOT pick headings based on the way it looks.
- Do NOT use headings to draw attention to an area or section/
- Do NOT hyperlink a heading - hyperlinking a heading creates confusion.
Headings are important because they serve as landmarks on a webpage for users of screen readers. Unlike visual-users who scan webpages from top to bottom and side to side (visually), screen reader users browse webpages by a list of available headings.
Do NOT skip heading levels
When you skip heading levels and break the heading hierarchy, it creates unnecessary confusion to users of screen readers.
The table below outlines the ideal use-case for each heading level and recommendations for when to use each level.
| Level | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Heading 1 |
Title of your webpage
|
| Heading 2 |
Major Section Heading - Start Here
|
| Heading 3 |
Subheading to Heading 2
|
| Heading 4 |
Subheading to Heading 3
|
| Heading 5 |
Subheading to Heading 4
|
| Heading 6 |
Subheading to Heading 5
|
Links
How you format a link can impact both sighted users and visually-impaired users. This section outlines considerations when providing links on your webpages.
Did you know? Screen readers can browse your webpage by a list of available links - so having a "Click Here" phrase hyperlinked is not very helpful as it lacks context.
- Use descriptive wording that helps readers understand:
- Where the link will go OR
- What the link does
- Read the wording on your hyperlink and ask yourself:
- Is it clear to my audience, what the link does or where it goes?
- Does my link make sense when its read?
- Screen readers are notorious for reading hyperlinked objects exactly as they are phrased/worded.
- Visual Users are less inclined to click on links that appear long in length.
- Do NOT provide the web address or URL on a webpage.
- Screen readers will read all hyperlinked objects exactly as presented - so having to listen to the entire URL read aloud is not very helpful.
- Visual users are less inclined to click on full page URLs.
- Do NOT use short phrases on links
- Avoid using "Click Here" or similar short phrases. When read by screen readers, these links do not provide sufficient context about where they go or what they do.
- "Click here" is out of date.
When links are encountered by a screen reader, they are read aloud exactly as presented on the webpage. Because they are being read aloud, its important to carefully phrase the link in a way that provides context about where the link goes or what the link does.
Screen readers will announce: "Link" (followed by the wording used on your link).
Examples:
- "Link". "Enrollment Services website".
- "Link". "Event Registration Form".
- "Link". "myStanState Student Portal".
Some hyperlinks are meant to drive a specific action. These are sometimes called "call-to-action links". When using a call-to-action link, using a verb at the beginning helps motivate users to use the link.
Examples
These call-to-action examples are phrased in a way where users can articulate their purpose.
- Register For Conference
- Link takes users to a conference registration page
- Attend Workshop
- Link takes users to a workshop registration page
- Submit Form
- Link takes users to a form submission page
- Schedule Appointment
- Link takes users to an appointment scheduling page
If your link is will send users to a specific reference page or another website, simply hyperlink the name of the resource.
In these examples both visual users and visually-impaired users would both understand where these links go.
This section outlines considerations for common webpage formatting elements. A number of commonly used visual elements can bring implications if not properly implemented.
Did you know? Most screen readers cannot determine whether text appears bold, underlined, highlighted or italicized!
Color & Contrast
A number of limitations can arise through the use of color. Special considerations must be taken to ensure the use color does not pose as a barrier to information especially, to visual users who may be colorblind.
Did you know? According to We Are Color Blind.com, about 4% of the population has some form of colorblindness. Many studies suggest that colorblindness is more prevalent in males.
- Avoid color-coding information as some visual users may be colorblind.
- Colorblind users may not be able to see certain colors - instead, use plain text to relay information.
- Avoid assigning meaning to color.
- For example, avoid marking important information with the color red.
- Instead, use keywords that relay importance, attention or urgency.
- A few examples can include:
- Important!
- Note!
- Update!
- Check color contrast in any areas where there may be bright or dark backgrounds.
- Are any colored links or colored text difficult to read?
- If so, you can test the color contrast using WebAIM's free Color Contrast Checker.
- Are any colored links or colored text difficult to read?
- Avoid color-coding information as some visual users may be colorblind.
- Avoid assigning meaning to color.
Read the Best Practices section for additional information.
Color can be used to enhance the appearance of a webpage. However, it must be used in a way where color does not become a barrier to information shared on your webpages.
Consider testing your colors with WebAIM's free Color Contrast Checker
When using color, ask yourself:
- Are my links difficult to read because of the color I used?
- Is the colored text on my image is easy or difficult to read?
- Is my colored link difficult to read?
- Did I assign meanings to any color(s)?
- If so, I have to use plain text to relay that information for the visual users who may have color blindness.
Text Alignment
Across our website, body text is typically left-aligned. This alignment is widely regarded as the most readable and accessible option for many users. Note certain website features may use centered headings, as a design and is an exception.
Did you know? Users with cognitive disabilities such as dyslexia, can become disoriented when text is shifted towards the center or right-aligned.
- Leave text left-aligned.
- Left-aligned text provides an easier reading experience for visual users as it helps readers understand where each line of text begins and ends.
- Left-aligned text is the most helpful for people with cognitive disabilities and users with visual processing challenges.
- Avoid center & right-aligned text format
- Do NOT center or right-align paragraph text
- Including: headings, hyperlinks, images
- Dyslexic users, can become disoriented when text is shifted towards the center or right-aligned.
- The alignment of text can impact accessibility - but only when it's modified to other formats beside left-aligned
- Certain website features such as our accordions do alter text alignment, however it's narrowed only to the main section headings
Underlining
The use of underlining is a visual element available only to visual users and should be used sparingly. Please note the possible limitations you can encounter when using underlined text.
Did you know? Modern web design often underlines hyperlinks for visual users. When you underline text, visual users can mistake your underlined words for hyperlinked objects. Most screen readers will not announce that text appears to be underlined.
- Limit your underlining from 1 to 3 words, max per page.
- Avoid using underlining to draw attention as visual users can mistake the text for a hyperlink.
- Do NOT underline more than 1 to 3 words.
- Visual user can mistake underlined text for a hyperlink.
- Do NOT underline text to draw attention
- For example, "IMPORTANT:"
- Do NOT assign meaning to underlined words.
- For example, "All underlined dates are important".
Underlined text does not inherently create accessibility issues. Issues arise mainly when underlining is overused or used for the wrong reasons.
The following limitations are encountered when using underlines:
- Screen readers will NOT announce that text is underlined.
- Visual users can mistake your underlined word or phrases to be hyperlinked objects since modern web design often underlines hyperlinks.
Bold Text
The use of bold text is great for visual emphasis, however, it is a visual element available only to visual users. It should be used sparingly. Please note the possible limitations you may encounter when using bold text on webpages.
Did you know? Most screen readers will not announce that text appears bold. Text in bold does not turn text into headings for screen readers.
- Limit the use of bold text, when possible.
- Bold text does not turn text into a heading, instead use real headings.
- If you must use bold text, limit the bold text styling to a few words on any particular section of information.
- Be cautious not to overuse the bold text style as it can hurt page readability for visual users.
- Do NOT use bold text as a replacement/substitute for a heading.
- Bold text will not register as a heading for screen reader users - use real headings instead.
- Do NOT assign meaning to bold text
- For example, "All Deadlines are marked in bold".
- This (visual) information would only be information available to visual users and not visually-impaired users, thus creating a barrier to information.
- For example, "All Deadlines are marked in bold".
Using bold text does not inherently create accessibility issues, however, there are notable limitations with bold text.
- Screen readers will not announce that text appears bold.
- When bold text is used excessively, you can make the webpage much more difficult for visual users to read.
Italics
Italicized text is a visual element, however, it should be used sparingly. This section highlights considerations for visual users and visually-impaired users.
Did you know? Most screen readers do not announce when text appears italicized. Your webpage becomes increasingly difficult to read if italics are overused.
- Limit the use of italicized text to a few words - 1 to 3 is a safe range.
- Be cautious as the overuse of italicized text can hurt your page readability to visual users.
- Do NOT assign meaning to italicized text.
- For example, "All italicized dates are important".
- In this instance, only visual users would understand which dates are important since screen reader users have no way to interpret the italicized text.
- Avoid overuse of italicized text - as this hurts page readability for visual users.
Italicized text does not create an accessibility issue, however it can become an issue in the following circumstances:
- Overused throughout a page, which make the page increasingly difficult to read for visual users.
- When meaning has been assigned to italicized text.
- It should noted that dyslexic users can have increased difficulties reading through italicized text, particularly if its more spanning more than a sentence long in length.
Evaluating Your Web Content
Use the free WAVE browser extension from WebAIM to check your webpage accessibility.
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Checks your headings levels, alt text descriptions, link text & more!
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Flags errors & areas of concern
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Available for free on Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Updated: March 12, 2026