Headings
Headings provide structure, help visitors scan content quickly, and allow screen reader users to understand and navigate the page. Proper heading structure is required across all School of Medicine websites. This page summarizes the key accessibility guidelines. For detailed instructions, on creating headings, see the Headings page in the User Guide.
Why Accessible Headings Matter
- Screen readers rely on headings, not text size or color, to understand page structure.
- Proper headings make long pages easier to skim and improve overall usability.
- Clear hierarchy improves SEO by helping search engines understand how your content is organized.
Key Requirements for Accessible Headings
1. Use Headings for Structure
- Use headings to organize content into meaningful sections, not to make text large or bold.
- Headings make pages easier to scan and read. Visitors rely on them to quickly identify where new topics begin and locate information of interest.
2. Heading Styles
- A common accessibility mistake is bolding text to make it look like a heading instead of applying the actual heading level through the editor.
- Do not manually changing heading fonts, colors, or sizes. These styles are already built into the School of Medicine theme for consistency and accessibility.
3. Follow Proper Hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3 → H4)
- Headings should be used in descending order.
- Each page should only have one H1. The page title automatically serves as the page’s H1.
- Use H2 through H6 headings within the main content area to organize sections and sub-sections of content.
- Do not skip heading levels (e.g., from H2 to H4).
4. Headings Should Be Descriptive and Clear
- Headings should accurately reflect the content that follows.
- Keep each heading unique and relevant so users, and search engines, can quickly understand the page structure.
5. Do Not Use All Caps for Headings
- All caps are harder to read and can cause issues for screen readers and voice dictation tools.
Continue to the Full How-To
For step-by-step guidance on adding headings, see our Headings documentation.
Related Accessibility Videos
Making Headings and Lists More Accessible
Learn how screen reader users navigate using headings and lists.
4 min. 38 sec.
Web Headings for Screen Readers
A blind presenter demonstrates real-world heading navigation.
1 min. 52 sec.
Resources
Example
