I Thought Our Website Was Accessible. I Was Wrong. By Terry Jilian

What I’ve learned about accessibility in schools—and how small changes can make a big difference

I’ve been responsible for our district website since 2015—and for years, I thought I was doing accessibility right.

I wasn’t.

Like many educators, I cared deeply about making information available to everyone. I followed the guidance I was given, checked the boxes I knew about, and did my best with the tools I had. But the biggest challenge wasn’t effort—it was uncertainty.

I didn’t always know how to check accessibility, what tools to use, or even what “accessible” really meant in practice.

When “Doing Your Best” Isn’t Enough

Early on, I was told that document accessibility—especially PDFs—was critical. I learned the steps I was supposed to follow and tried to apply them. But even after doing everything I thought was right, I would still get flagged in accessibility reports.

It was frustrating.

I didn’t know what I was missing, and I didn’t always have access to the tools needed to fix it. So I kept trying, hoping I was getting closer.

Then last summer, at the Future Ready Nebraska Conference, I started hearing more about updated accessibility expectations and legal requirements. If I’m being honest, it was overwhelming.

It also forced me to confront something important: accessibility isn’t just about websites. It includes the documents teachers send home, the flyers we post, and the content we share on social media.

And I needed to understand it better.

Accessibility, in a Nutshell

Accessibility standards are built around four core principles, often referred to as POUR:

Perceivable

Information must be presented in ways users can sense.

This includes adding alt text to images, captioning videos, and ensuring strong color contrast.

Operable

Users must be able to navigate and interact with content.

That means full keyboard navigation, clear heading structure, and meaningful link text.

Understandable

Content should be clear and predictable.

Plain language, consistent layouts, and avoiding color-only meaning all help users process information more easily.

Robust

Content must work with current and future assistive technologies.

This includes properly structured documents, accessible PDFs, and using true lists and tables instead of visual formatting tricks.

That all sounds straightforward—but applying it consistently is where the real challenge begins.

What I’ve Learned Along the Way

Alt Text Matters More Than You Think

Images need alternative text so screen readers can describe them. Every major tool includes a way to add this—it just takes intention.

Alt text should be concise but meaningful. Think about what you want someone to understand from the image, and describe that.

If an image is purely decorative, mark it that way so it can be skipped.

Structure Isn’t About Style

Headings aren’t just for making text look bigger or bolder—they create structure.

Every document should have a clear hierarchy, starting with a main heading and followed by properly nested subheadings. This allows screen readers to navigate content logically.

I’ll admit—I used to choose headings based on how they looked, not what they meant. That small misunderstanding made a big difference.

Captions Benefit Everyone

Captions aren’t just for accessibility—they’re useful for everyone.

I often find myself watching videos without sound or relying on captions to better understand what’s being said. Tools like Canva make this easier with auto-generated captions, but it’s still important to review them for accuracy.

Simplicity Improves Access

Clear, simple writing helps everyone—not just those using assistive technology.

Short sentences, plain language, and clean design make content easier to read and understand. Busy backgrounds and cluttered layouts can quickly become barriers.

Color Contrast Isn’t Optional

Text must stand out clearly from its background.

Using high contrast makes content readable in different lighting conditions and for users with visual impairments. Tools like contrast checkers can help verify this.

Also, never rely on color alone to communicate meaning. If something is important, it should be clear even in black and white.

Images Can Exclude People

We often use images—especially flyers—to grab attention and quickly share information. But when all the important content is inside an image, it can’t be read by screen readers or translated easily. That means some users are left out.

A simple fix: include the same information in the accompanying text.

Emojis and Hashtags Need Intentional Use

Emojis can enhance a message—but overusing them can disrupt screen readers. Hashtags should use camel case (capitalizing each word) so they’re read correctly. For example: #SchoolLunchMenu instead of #schoollunchmenu.

Links Should Be Clear

“Click here” doesn’t tell users anything.

Links should clearly describe where they lead, and they should be visually distinct—typically underlined and in a different color.

PDFs Are More Complicated Than They Seem

Not all PDFs are truly accessible.

For example, documents scanned from a copier are often just images—even though they’re saved as PDFs. Screen readers can’t interpret those.

Even exporting from tools like Word or Canva doesn’t guarantee accessibility. Proper structure and tagging are still required.

Tables Require the Right Tools

I once spent hours trying to fix a table in a flyer—adjusting formatting, rebuilding it, starting over—only to realize the issue wasn’t what I was doing. It was how the table was created. Tables need to be built using proper tools so screen readers can interpret headers and relationships correctly. Visual formatting alone won’t work.

Tools That Can Help

You don’t have to figure this out on your own.

● Built-in screen readers on Mac, Windows, and Android can help you experience your content differently

● Online tools can check color contrast

● Programs like Grackle Docs and Adobe Acrobat Pro can help evaluate and improve document accessibility

● Many platforms now include built-in accessibility checkers—use them

● AI tools can also support accessibility efforts by helping generate alt text, simplify writing, or flag potential issues—but they should always be used as a starting point, not a final solution.

One of the most eye-opening things you can do is try navigating your website using only a keyboard or listening to it with a screen reader.

You’ll learn quickly what works—and what doesn’t.