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Some Fundamentals of Digital Accessibility

Some Fundamentals of Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility ensures that everyone—regardless of ability—can engage with our online materials, tools, and communications. At UC Merced, accessibility is both a shared value and a legal requirement under Section 508 and WCAG 2.2 AA. This page introduces four essential foundations of accessible digital content: clear writing, keyboard access with focus indication, headings, and descriptive links.

Clear and Inclusive Writing

Good writing makes digital content more accessible to everyone. Clear language supports users who rely on assistive technology, as well as people who are learning English, skimming quickly, or have cognitive disabilities.

Tips for accessible writing:

  • Use short sentences and familiar words.
  • Place the main idea first, then supporting details.
  • Avoid jargon or explain it the first time it appears.
  • Use lists and headings to break up long text.
  • Write link text that describes the destination or action.

For example, instead of writing “Click here for the schedule,” write “View the course schedule.”

Learn more:

Keyboard Access and Focus Indication

Every function on a website or digital document should be available using only the keyboard. Some users cannot operate a mouse or touch screen and rely on keyboard navigation.

Make sure your content:

  • Allows users to tab through links, buttons, and form controls in a logical order.
  • Shows a visible focus indicator (a clear outline or highlight) when an element is selected.
  • Avoids using JavaScript or custom controls that trap focus or skip interactive elements.
  • Provides skip links or landmarks to help users jump to key sections.

Test your content by navigating with Tab, Shift + Tab, Enter, and Spacebar. If you can’t reach something, neither can keyboard-only users.

Learn more:

Headings and Structure

Headings provide structure for all readers, but especially for users of screen readers who navigate by heading level. A clear heading hierarchy also improves scanning, comprehension, and SEO.

Best practices:

  • Use HTML heading tags (<h1> through <h6>) in order, without skipping levels.
  • Limit each page or document to one <h1> heading that describes the main topic.
  • Write concise, descriptive headings that communicate the purpose of each section.

Think of headings like a document outline—each subheading should fit neatly beneath its parent.

Learn more:

Links should make sense out of context. Many assistive technologies let users list all links on a page, so “Click here” or “Read more” provides no useful information.

Write better links by:

  • Describing the destination or action (e.g., “Read the 2025 Annual Report”).
  • Avoiding redundant phrasing (“link to,” “click here”).
  • Ensuring link color has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5 : 1 and includes a visual indicator such as underline.
  • Keeping link text concise but meaningful.

Learn more:

Putting It All Together

Digital accessibility begins with awareness and simple habits. Writing clearly, structuring content with headings, ensuring keyboard functionality, and crafting descriptive links benefit every visitor to UC Merced’s digital environment. Accessibility isn’t a one-time fix—it’s an ongoing practice that reflects our commitment to equity and inclusion.