---
title: Creating accessible content in Cadmus
description: Follow these best practice guidelines for creating accessible assessment content
---
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# Creating accessible content in Cadmus
## Follow these best practice guidelines for creating accessible assessment content
When [editing *Instructions*](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/writing-assessment-instructions?hsLang=en) or creating *Submissions* in Cadmus, you’ll have access to a broad range of [formatting options](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/formatting-text?hsLang=en). We recommend following the tips below, to ensure that your content is accessible for everyone.
### Include alt text
When inserting images in Cadmus, be sure to add a caption. The text in the caption becomes the default alternative text for the image, which is what screen reader users will hear as a description of the image.
[Follow these steps for inserting images and adding captions](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/adding-images-graphs-and-diagrams?hsLang=en).
### Check for high colour contrast
High colour contrast makes text and images easier to read and comprehend and supports adherence to [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/contrast-minimum.html).
When changing the text colour or highlight colour, avoid using similar, low-contrast combinations.
For example:
- Emphasise text using black (default) text with any of our highlight options.
- Avoid using the grey text on a white background or with our highlight options.
### Use informative link text for hyperlinks and Resources
When [adding hyperlinks to Instructions](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/adding-links?hsLang=en) or Submissions, we recommend making the linked text more descriptive. For example, instead of “Click here to view more information on APA referencing”, try “This guide provides more information on APA referencing”.
Similarly, when [adding Resources](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/adding-resources?hsLang=en), update the file or link name to an appropriate title and use the *note* section to provide more information about the resource.
### Use descriptive text to support formatting
In some cases, screen readers may not announce formatting applied like bold or highlighted text. Emphasise important information by using language like ‘Important’ or ‘Please note…’ to verbally signpost sections.
### Use headings to organise your document
Headings provide a visual and verbal structure to Instructions and Submissions, making it easier for people to jump to a section (especially if they're using keyboard shortcuts). In Cadmus, you will see four heading styles (Title, Subtitle, Heading, Subheading), and then Paragraph and Quote styles to structure your content.
We recommend that you:
- Only use one Title (this will be the pre-populated Assessment title).
- Maintain the hierarchy, nesting Subtitles, Headings and Subheadings under each other.
- Avoid skipping heading levels (e.g. Title \> Subheading).
[Our instruction templates](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/using-templates?hsLang=en) automatically provide you with an accessible structure for your instructions.
### Use numbered and bulleted lists
To make content easier to digest and provide more visual structure, look for opportunities to convert large paragraphs into lists.
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