Content Design for Assistive Technology
Making Digital Information Work for Everyone
Part 2 of a 3-part series for World Assistive Technology Day
When we talk about assistive technology (AT), we often think of the tools, screen readers, magnifiers, or speech interfaces. But behind every effective tool is the content it interacts with. If the content isn’t accessible, even the best AT can fall short.
So, how do we make sure our digital content plays well with assistive tech? That’s what this post is about.
A man with a visual impairment sits on a bench in a tree-lined, cobblestone street, wearing yellow-tinted glasses and a wearable assistive device around his neck. He appears relaxed and confident, with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Start with the Basics: What Makes Content Compatible with AT?
Let’s begin with something simple but powerful: alt-text.
Alt-text is what screen readers use to describe images aloud. Done well, it gives people who are blind or low-vision access to visual information.
Instagram, for example, auto-generates alt-text if you don’t write your own. But what it gives you can be hit or miss, sometimes it nails the content, sometimes it just says “person in front of blackboard.” Even if the description is correct, auto-generated alt-text is not necessarily supported by each screen reader. But the manually added versions are.
The safest option: Always write your own. Good alt-text is context-aware. It answers:
Who’s in the image?
What are they doing?
What’s important to notice?
Try using this structure: Subject / Activity / Object.
Example: “A woman in a red jacket crossing the street with a white cane.”
AI Alt-Text: Helpful, But Not Perfect
AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can now generate image descriptions too. In a recent talk at A-Tag in Vienna, Denis Paris shared that these tools are getting better, but they still make mistakes. Sometimes they overcomplicate, or even fabricate things that aren’t there.
Bottom line: AI-generated descriptions are a great starting point, but human review is key.
Audio Descriptions and Image Captions: What’s the Difference?
Some people confuse alt-text and image descriptions. Here’s a simple way to think about it:
Alt-text is read by screen readers.
Image descriptions (e.g. in captions or post text) are visible to everyone.
If you’re only going to use one, go with image descriptions in the caption. They’re accessible to both screen readers and people using magnification tools. And for videos, don’t forget audio descriptions to convey key visual information.
A Note on Abbreviations and Semantic HTML
Accessibility is also about structure. Tools like screen readers rely on well-coded HTML to understand how a page is laid out. That’s where semantic HTML comes in tags like <header>, <main>, <footer> give the page structure.
Abbreviations should be spelled out the first time, like this:
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
After that, feel free to use just the abbreviation. It’s easier to follow and reduces cognitive load.
There’s also the <abbr> tag that helps convey meaning to AT. It’s useful, but sometimes certain browser and screen reader combinations don’t interpret it correctly. Better to spell things out clearly when possible.
What About ARIA? Use With Care.
ARIA stands for Accessible Rich Internet Applications. Some see them as the magic development tool for accessibility. But here’s the golden rule:
Don’t use ARIA if you can use a native HTML element instead.
ARIA was designed to supplement, not replace, proper HTML. When overused or misused, it can create confusion. Think of ARIA as a helpful patch, not the foundation. Unless you really know what you are doing, it’s best to avoid it.
Everyone Plays a Role
Accessible content doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
It takes collaboration between developers, designers, content creators, users, and policymakers. The person writing alt-text might not be the one coding it in, but they still need to know how to write it well.
It’s about working across teams, sharing responsibility, and always staying open to feedback.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Making content compatible with assistive technology isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about making sure everyone can participate, learn, and connect. Let’s build a digital world where no one’s left behind.
Part 3 of our World AT Day series will look at how assistive tech has evolved over the years and what’s coming next. Stay tuned.
