Accessible links
Links are used everywhere in digital content,: in emails, presentations, documents and webpages. Did you know that some links can be inaccessible to people using assistive technologies? Do you know how to create accessible links?
What is the problem?"Click here" links
Long URL as links
Accessible links
Creating accessible links
Useful links
What is the problem?
"Click here" links
Have you seen "click here" links? A visual user will be able to set it in context and understand the place where the link will direct. But a person relying on assistive technology may scan links on the page and they will be presented with a list of "click here" links where they will not be able to understand where each link will be directing them to.
Long URL as links
Sometimes people use the URL as is. Visual users may not mind this too much just scanning through it. However, a person relying on assistive technology will have to listen to the whole URL being read out to understand where the link will direct them to. This can be disorientating as well as annoying.
The video demonstrates how a screen reader user will encounter inaccessible links.
Accessible links
Use descriptive link text that will provide sufficient information where the link will take the user.
This may require you to paraphrase what you want to say. For example instead of saying "click here for event registration" with "click here" as the link you may want to say "register for the event" as the link text.
The difference this makes for a user of assistive technology is demonstrated in the video.
Creating accessible links
Microsoft Office products
Select the text you want as the link text and right-click. Now select "Link"
Provide the URL in the Address box.
Refer to Microsoft Create or edit hyperlink for more information.
Useful links