Getting Started

Headings create a logical structure for your page. Screen readers use headings to generate an outline, allowing students to quickly navigate between sections.

Why it matters:
Without heading structure, screen reader users must listen to content from beginning to end.

How to do it in Brightspace:

• Use the dropdown menu in the Brightspace HTML Editor

• Select Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3 — instead of bolding text

• Follow a logical hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)

Tip: Think of headings like chapter titles in a book.

Screen reader users often navigate by jumping from link to link. If your page contains multiple “click here” links, students cannot tell where each link leads.

Avoid:

• Click here
• Read more
• This link

Instead, use descriptive text:

• Download the Week 3 Study Guide (PDF)
• Review the Academic Integrity Policy
• Watch the Introduction to Linear Equations Video

Brightspace Tip: Highlight meaningful text first, then insert your hyperlink.

Alternative text (alt text) provides a written description of an image for students who cannot see it.

When a screen reader encounters an image, it announces:
“Image: [alt text description]”

Good alt text describes:

• The essential information the image conveys
• The purpose of the image within the lesson

Example:

Use: "Bar graph comparing enrollment trends from 2020 to 2024, showing a 15% increase."

If an image is decorative and conveys no instructional meaning, mark it as decorative so screen readers skip it.

In Brightspace:
Right-click the image → Image Options icon → Add Alternative Description.

Students with low vision or color blindness may not distinguish low-contrast combinations such as:

• Yellow on white
• Light gray on light blue

Best Practices:

• Use dark text on a light background (or vice versa)
• Avoid relying on color alone to indicate meaning
• Combine color with text labels or icons

In Brightspace:

Tables should only be used to display structured data (rows and columns).

When tables are used for layout (e.g., to position text or images), screen readers read every cell in sequence, which can be confusing and disorienting. A great example of how a screen reader would announce a layout table is given by WebAIM.

Appropriate use:

• Grade distribution table
• Research data table
• Comparison chart

Inappropriate use:

• Designing page structure
• Aligning images next to text

If using tables:

• Add column headers
• Use simple structure
• Avoid merged or split cells when possible