You're overwhelmed with content to make accessible. How do you decide what to prioritize first?

1 Assess Needs

Begin by assessing the needs of your audience. Consider which pieces of content are most frequently accessed and by whom. If you have analytics available, use them to identify high-traffic areas of your website or platform. Prioritize content that is essential for users to understand and interact with your services or products. This may include navigation menus, main landing pages, and key informational content. Ensure that these critical elements are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, to provide an equitable user experience from the outset.

2 Legal Compliance

Legal compliance is a non-negotiable factor in content accessibility. Familiarize yourself with the relevant laws and standards, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Prioritize content adjustments that will keep you in line with these regulations to avoid legal repercussions. Start with the most glaring issues that could lead to legal challenges, like missing alt text for images, inaccessible forms, or lack of keyboard navigation options, and address them promptly.

4 Content Impact

Evaluate the impact of each piece of content on your overall goals. Prioritize making high-impact content accessible first. This includes content that drives business results, such as lead generation forms, product information, and call-to-action buttons. Ensuring that these elements are accessible to all users can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your content strategy and broaden your audience reach.

5 Resource Allocation

When resources are limited, it's crucial to allocate them wisely. Assess your available budget, tools, and personnel dedicated to content accessibility. Prioritize tasks that can be accomplished with the resources at hand without compromising quality. Sometimes, this may mean focusing on smaller, high-return accessibility improvements before tackling larger projects.

6 Monitor Progress

Finally, establish a system to monitor the progress of your accessibility efforts. Keep track of the changes made and the impact they have on user experience. Use this information to adjust your priorities as needed. Regular monitoring ensures that you remain responsive to users' needs and adaptive to new accessibility challenges as your content evolves.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?