CiaoCiao the blog about the digital lifecycle

Lesson 4 – Accessibility Quick Wins: Simple Steps, Real Impact

Written by Karine Simard | Sep 7, 2026, 8:00:00 a.m.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the scope of accessibility, there’s encouraging news: there are many accessibility “quick wins” you can put in place quickly, at low cost, and with real benefit for your users. That’s the focus of the fourth lesson in the “Digital Accessibility Explained” series.

 

Some of the most effective quick wins include:

  • adding or fixing alt text for key images so people who can’t see them still get the information;
  • checking colour contrast and adjusting your palette when text is too hard to read;
  • restructuring pages with proper heading levels (h1, h2, h3…) to make navigation easier, especially for screen readers;
  • replacing vague links like “Click here” with descriptive labels that clearly indicate the action or destination;
  • testing keyboard navigation to make sure people can browse and use essential features without a mouse.

These changes rarely require a full redesign. They can be integrated into existing maintenance and continuous improvement cycles. A writer can enrich alt text and improve link wording, a designer can tweak colours, and a developer can quickly correct tab order or add the right attributes.

Quick wins matter for two reasons. First, they have an immediate impact on many people: assistive technology users, of course, but also anyone browsing on a phone outdoors, in a noisy place, or while tired or distracted. Second, they let your teams see, very concretely, how accessibility improvements make your product better. That visible payoff is a powerful motivator to go further.

This fourth lesson is a reminder that, even though accessibility is a big topic, you can start small—and still make a difference. Every improvement counts and brings the web a little closer to being inclusive, one interface at a time.

Ready for more?