Tips on how you as an editor can increase accessibility on your website

Joakim Gudmunds

Frontend Developer

We have previously published an article about the expanded legal requirements for accessibility, which from summer 2025 will also cover e-commerce. This article gives you as a website editor practical tips to ensure that your content is already accessible to all users.

A website is a living thing, and therefore accessibility work is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process. In addition to the many technical and more code-related points from WCAG regarding ensuring an accessible website, there are also things that are directly related to the editor's work.

Headings and text content

Whether it concerns product texts, article pages, or other content, text is often the foundation of most information conveyed. It is important to think about writing text that is as easy to understand as possible. Ensuring that text has good readability and is comprehensible is also one of WCAG's guidelines for accessible content. Here are some tips on what to consider when creating accessible text content on your website.

• Avoid unnecessary complexity in the text, and feel free to explain technical terms if these need to be used.
• Make sure to structure the content so that it is easy to follow. Use headings, lists, and shorter paragraphs to make the text more accessible.
• Keep in mind that there is a purpose behind heading levels and ensure that headings are used in the correct order. An h3, for example, should always appear below an h2. This is important for screen readers and other assistive technologies.
• Text must have sufficient contrast against the background to be readable. There are many different tools for measuring contrast. An example of a tool: Web Accessibility Color Contrast Checker - Meet WCAG Conformance (accessibleweb.com)
• Make sure it is possible to understand where a link leads even if it is taken out of context. This is especially important for screen reader users, who often navigate between links.

Feel free to offer your content in multiple formats. Supplement with video, audio, and images to increase accessibility and make it easier for people with reading difficulties or other cognitive challenges.

Images, audio, and video

Unlike text, where it is recommended to use other media to clarify the content, it is a requirement under WCAG that images, audio, and video are always supplemented with text.

Content should never depend on only one sense, such as sight or hearing, to be understood. Today there are many good assistive tools for making text accessible, such as screen readers and tactile devices for people with visual impairments.

When it comes to images, audio, and video, however, complementary alternatives are needed to ensure that the information can be perceived in multiple ways. Some tips for making the use of different media more accessible:

• Write alt texts that describe what the image depicts and its relevance to the content. Do not add "An image of" or "A video with" as the beginning of the alt text. This is already conveyed by the HTML element. However, in some cases it can be useful to describe what type of image it is at the end of the alt text. E.g. "An illustration" or "A photograph".
• If you use pre-recorded films or audio on your website, there must be text alternatives that describe the content.
• Videos that contain audio tracks must have subtitles that reflect what is being said. Preferably use a video player that allows subtitles to be turned on or off, rather than burning the subtitles directly into the video.

Accessibility statement

If you are covered by the law, an accessibility statement must also be present on your website. This should be easily reachable without having to navigate several steps into the website. Feel free to add a link in the footer of the website to your statement.

In your accessibility statement, your work on accessibility must be reported. It must include, among other things, the status of how accessible your website is, with known deficiencies and planned measures for these. There must also be a direct link to how a user can report accessibility deficiencies on the website.

Where you can find more information about the new requirements

Digin.nu is a website about digital inclusion and accessibility. The website is jointly operated by several Swedish government agencies. Here you get a good overview of the accessibility directive.

PTS (Swedish Post and Telecom Authority) is the market surveillance authority and one of several supervisory authorities for the law in Sweden. Read information about the law on the accessibility of certain products and services.

Do you need help with accessibility?

Remember that from 28 June 2025, e-commerce in Sweden will also be covered by the accessibility law. Prepare your website for the future today. Do you need support in carrying out an accessibility analysis or updating your website according to the new requirements? Contact us for help and advice.