Digital Accessibility Overview

Resources

Resource Spotlight: The Must-Have WCAG Checklist

Use this report for help understanding the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and reviewing the accessibility of your website, web content, and web applications. Developed by Level Access, a company that helps organizations create accessible and legally compliant websites, mobile apps, software, and other digital experiences.

Accessibility Basics

• Checklist for Creating Accessible Documents and Presentations
  • This quick-reference tool provides practical steps to create accessible documents and presentations from the start, or improve existing ones. It covers essential practices like readable text, structured headings, alternative text, captions, and feedback mechanisms.
• Accessibility Posters
  • This PDF offers a set of visual, easy-to-understand posters that outline best practices for designing accessible digital content. Each poster focuses on making content usable for specific audiences, such as users with autism, dyslexia, physical or sensory impairments, and anxiety. The posters provide actionable “do’s and don’ts,” encouraging the use of clear language, proper layouts, alternative text, captions, and accessible interactions to ensure inclusive digital experiences for all users.
• Alt Text Writing Strategies
  • Alt text (alternative text) provides descriptions for images so that screen readers can convey visual information to users who are blind or have low vision. Effective alt text makes websites, documents, and digital content more inclusive for everyone. Here’s a guide to writing clear and effective alt text that applies to various professional settings.

Accessibility Best Practices

• Design with Accessibility from the Start
  • Use built-in Word styles (like Heading 1, Heading 2) for structure to ensure screen readers can navigate efficiently.
  • Maintain a logical reading order, using proper headings and lists to structure content clearly.
• Use the Accessibility Checker Regularly
  • Microsoft’s built-in Accessibility Checker identifies issues like missing alt text or improper reading order.
  • Address flagged issues during the creation process to ensure the document meets accessibility standards from the outset.
  • Visit Microsoft’s help page to learn how to improve accessibility with the Accessibility Checker
• Provide Alt Text for Images and Non-Text Content
  • Include meaningful alternative text (alt text) to describe the content and purpose of visuals.
  • Avoid leaving decorative images without context—if decorative, mark them accordingly in Word.
• Ensure Color Contrast and Readability
  • Use high-contrast colors between text and background to accommodate visually impaired readers.
  • Select fonts and font sizes that are easy to read (e.g., sans-serif fonts like Arial) and avoid excessive text styling (e.g., italics or all caps).
  • Understanding the use of color (WCAG 2.2)
  • Contrast and Color Accessibility (WebAIM.org)
  • Deque Color Contrast Analyzer Tool
• Write Descriptive Links
  • Check that the purpose of the link can be determined from the link text alone.
  • For example, link text for a registration form could be “sign up to attend the event.” Link text like “click here” does not provide context to understand where the link is going.
  • Understanding links in context (WCAG 2.2)
• Format and use simple tables with column and row headers.
  • Split nested tables up into simple tables, and do not use tables to control layout
  • Accessibility techniques for tables checklist (Deque University)
• Save Accessible Versions and Name Files Clearly
  • Use descriptive file names with underscores or dashes between words (e.g., “Accessible_Document.docx”) to ensure readability for assistive technologies.
  • If converting to PDF, use the “Save As PDF” option in Word to retain accessibility features (instead of “Print to PDF”).

Microsoft Word

• Creating Accessible Word Documents
  • This video from University of Alabama provides a comprehensive guide on creating accessible Word documents, covering topics such as using the accessibility checker, applying built-in styles and headings for easy navigation, adding alternative text to images, ensuring color contrast, and converting Word files to accessible PDFs. Approximate length 54 minutes.
• Creating Accessible Tables Guide
  • This .pdf shows how to design accessible tables that are easy to navigate, even for users relying on screen readers. This guide offers practical tips on structuring data clearly, avoiding complex layouts, and using built-in accessibility tools to ensure tables are readable and inclusive.
• Social Security Administration – 508 Compliance Checklists for Documents

Microsoft Powerpoint

• Coming Soon!

PDF

• Coming soon!

Blackboard Ultra

• Coming soon!

Yuja

• Coming soon!

Zoom

• Coming soon!

Syllabus

• Coming soon!

Articles, Books, and Reports

• Chemnad, K., & Othman, A. (2024). Digital accessibility in the era of artificial intelligence-Bibliometric analysis and systematic review. Frontiers in artificial intelligence, 7, 1349668.
• Federico, A., Shaikh, K., & Wang, M. (2020). Evaluating Accessibility. Teaching with Digital Tools and Apps. 

Online Tools

• Microsoft 365 Support on making Word accessible
• Web Accessibility Initiative – How to Meet WCAG (Quick Reference) 
• Web Accessibility Initiative – Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List 
• WebAIM.org – Links and Hypertext 
• WebAIM.org – Headings 
• Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool – WAVE Browser Extensions 
• Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool – SiteImprove Browser Extensions