Goal: Explain how plain language supports digital accessibility and how it connects with W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to make content usable for all.
When we talk about digital accessibility, most people think of technical features: screen readers, alt text, keyboard navigation. These are essential, but they only solve part of the problem. To be truly accessible, websites also need to use language that people can understand.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), are the international standard for digital accessibility. They are often used by governments and public institutions to make websites and digital tools more inclusive. One key section of these guidelines is Guideline 3.1: Readable, which focuses on how content should be written and presented to support understanding.
The first requirement, 3.1.1 Language of Page, says that the main language of a page must be defined in the code. This helps screen readers pronounce words correctly. 3.1.2 Language of Parts adds that any passage in a different language should also be tagged. This is especially important for websites that include quotes, technical terms, or names from other languages.
Other criteria focus on clarity. 3.1.3 Unusual Words requires that there be a way to explain difficult or technical vocabulary. 3.1.4 Abbreviations says users should be able to access the full form of any abbreviation, which helps people with memory or decoding difficulties. 3.1.5 Reading Level recommends providing simpler alternatives if a page uses complex language that goes beyond lower secondary school level. 3.1.6 Pronunciation suggests adding pronunciation support when a word’s meaning depends on how it’s said—for example, names written in non-Latin alphabets.
These guidelines are especially helpful for people with cognitive or learning disabilities, those using screen readers or text-to-speech tools, and multilingual users. But the benefits are broader: clearer language supports everyone.
Plain language and accessibility are closely linked. Even if a page works technically, it may still be unusable if people can’t make sense of the content. Writers have a big role to play in making sure that the content is understandable.
To check technical accessibility, try tools like WAVE. While it doesn’t assess your writing, it can help highlight structural issues that may interfere with usability.
Try it
Use WAVE to scan one of your webpages or documents to solve any technical issues. Then review your content:
Does it use clear language, avoid unnecessary jargon, and explain any unusual terms or abbreviations? Would your reader understand what to do next?