Accessibility

Digital accessibility means making sure everyone can take part in the digital world, including people with dyslexia, (colour) blindness or low vision, hearing loss, autism or ADHD.

The good news is that everyone benefits from accessible content. It is easier to understand, easier to find, and reaches your audience more effectively.

And importantly: since the 2018 European Accessibility Act, public institutions like Leiden University are legally required to make their digital content accessible. With the tips below, you can help make a difference.

With a few simple changes, you can make your social media posts much more accessible:

• Add alt text to your photos so a screen reader can describe what is shown. For example: 'Students sitting in a circle on the grass in front of the Academy Building during introduction week' instead of 'IMG_4521'.
• Use capital letters in hashtags: #LeidenUniversity instead of #leidenuniversity. This makes hashtags easier for screen readers to read.
• Avoid using text‑formatting tools that turn your LinkedIn or Instagram text into bold or decorative fonts. Screen readers cannot handle these.
• Add subtitles to your videos. Include the spoken text and other important sounds.

Why alt text matters

When designing visual content, follow Leiden University’s house‑style guidelines.

• Use enough colour contrast. The house‑style colours already meet the requirements. If you cannot use these colours, you can check contrast with the WebAIM Contrast Checker. See our page on using accessible colours for more information.
• Avoid red/green combinations, as many people cannot easily tell these colours apart.
• Don’t forget to add a text description to charts and infographics.

Using accessible colours

For news articles and website texts, keep it simple. A clear structure, active writing style and avoiding jargon make content easier for everyone to read.

• Aim for B1 language level.
• Use bullet points, informative headings, white space and short paragraphs. This not only improves accessibility but also helps with search engine optimisation (SEO).
• Use clear links such as 'Download the study guide (PDF)' instead of 'Click here'.
• Add alt text to images, especially when they contain information.

Gender-inclusive writing

Talk with your team about what you can do to improve digital accessibility, and review this regularly. Accessibility is not a nice-to-have, but a requirement for an inclusive university where everyone can do their best.

Tip 1: Think about accessibility from the start. This is much easier than fixing problems afterwards. Digital accessibility mainly requires awareness and a different approach, not necessarily more time.

Tip 2: Put yourself in the place of your audience. Everyone processes information differently. Ask others to review your design. For example, test your text with a colleague who has dyslexia, or let someone try a screen reader on your content.

Tip 3: See it as a learning process. You always get another chance to practise and discover what works.

Do you have feedback or suggestions? We would love to hear from you. Email us at huisstijl@leidenuniv.nl.