Five Tips for Accessible Surveys

June 2, 2026

Have you ever thought about how your survey design might be shaping who does and doesn’t respond? Inaccessible surveys can exclude individuals and limit the story told by their data. This is one reason why considering accessibility in survey design is not optional. The tips provided below are not exhaustive but are meant as a starting point for improving your survey design.

Five Tips

1. Keep questions concise and direct
   • Avoid jargon and acronyms
   • Ask only one thing at a time
   • Test questions with pilot users prior to launching the survey
2. Use inclusive and respectful language
   • Use gender-inclusive wording
   • Avoid stereotypes
   • Avoid deficit-based language
   • Allow respondents to self-describe identities
3. Provide accessible formatting
   • Choose readable fonts (e.g., Calibri, Verdana, Arial)
   • Choose appropriate font size (e.g., at least 12pt)
   • Use headings to organize sections and questions
   • Keep the layout simple and consistent
4. Make surveys compatible with assistive technology
   • Use survey software that supports screen readers and keyboard navigation
   • Avoid relying on hover actions and drag-and-drop responses
   • Test whether the survey can be completed with only a keyboard
5. Consider different devices
   • Use simple layouts
   • Avoid large matrix tables
   • Consider the amount of scrolling required
   • Include large buttons that are easy to tap
   • Test the survey on different devices

How This Helps

• Improves response quality: clear, concise questions make it easier for respondents to understand what’s being asked, resulting in more accurate and reliable answers
• Supports inclusive participation: respectful, inclusive language helps people feel recognized and comfortable, reducing the risk of excluding or misrepresenting diverse identities and experiences
• Reduces confusion and drop-off: accessible formatting makes surveys easier to read and navigate, minimizing frustration and survey abandonment
• Enables equitable access: people using assistive technologies can fully participate when surveys are designed accessibly, ensuring their perspectives are not excluded from data collection
• Expands reach across devices: designing with mobile and other devices in mind allows more people to complete surveys in ways that work best for them

Learn More

• WCAG-Compliant Surveys: What You Need to Know about Accessibility and Compliance. This article highlights common accessibility challenges in surveys and outlines best practice for creating inclusive data collection tools. The article includes discussion of how to ensure surveys follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
• Accessibility in Research Toolkit: From Design to Dissemination. This toolkit provides an overview of how to build accessibility into research design. It is intended to be a starting point for anyone conducting research to begin learning about accessibility and access needs.
• Survey Guidelines and Best Practices. These guidelines describe how to plan and create a web-based survey. The guidelines were developed by the Institutional Research Office at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and they outline the process by which surveys can be administered to students, faculty, and/or staff at BCIT. However, there is helpful information within that can be used in other contexts.

Raise the issue of survey accessibility whenever survey discussions arise. Making accessibility part of the conversation is the first step toward making it part of the action plan. Join us again tomorrow for five tips to reduce barriers and increase inclusion in in-person communications.