Twas the night before teaching

With thanks (and apologies) to Clement Clarke Moore and Microsoft CoPilot.

Twas the night before teaching, and all through our site,
Every detail was checked to make accessibility right.
The headings were structured, the fonts were all clear,
Alt-text on each image - no barriers here!

The colours were chosen with contrast in mind,
So text and backgrounds were easy to find.
No GIFs flashing or flickering to cause any strain,
Just calm, steady visuals to help and sustain.

Captions were ready for videos to play,
Transcripts for podcasts to guide the way.
Clear language was sprinkled through every line,
So meaning was simple, and clarity fine.

Tables were tidy with headers in place,
No merged cells to puzzle or slow down the pace.
Links had descriptions that made sense alone,
No “click here” confusion - just context well shown.

Slides were accessible, text left aligned,
Instructions were clear and easy to find.
Keyboard navigation was smooth as could be,
For those who don’t use a mouse easily.

We tested with screen readers, checked every page,
Ensuring inclusion for learners of age.
The checklists were ticked, the standards all met,
So no one would struggle, no learner upset.

So onward we teach with inclusion in sight,
Happy learning to all, and to all a fair right!

About this version

This version of the poem has had all hyperlinks removed from the original ’Twas the Night Before Teaching blog. This makes it easier to enjoy for anyone using a screen reader, as links can interrupt the flow of reading.

You can read the full poem and blog post by visiting the original ’Twas the Night Before Teaching article.