Accessibility Training Resources

Images and Graphics

• Provide alternative text for all non-text elements (i.e., images, animations objects, audio/video files).
• Decorative images that do not convey important information should contain an empty alternative text (alt=””).
• For complex graphs or charts, provide the description in the body of the page or provide a link to the long description using a normal text link.
• Provide alternative text descriptions for image maps and redundant text links for each active region.
• Do not include objects that flicker, move, blink or scroll (may cause seizure).

Resources

• http://www.webaim.org/techniques/images/

Links, Hypertext, and Text

• Avoid uninformative link phrases such as “click here”, “more”, and “here”.
• Provide a way to skip over repetitive links. Example: skip to content link.
• Choose fonts and sizes that are easy to read.
• Provide sufficient contrast between the text and background.

Resources

• http://www.webaim.org/techniques/hypertext/
• http://juicystudio.com/services/readability.php

Color

• Do not use color alone to convey meaning.
  Example: “All the dates on my syllabus in red are due dates.”
• This requirement is critical for students with visual disabilities who are color blind.
• Avoid backgrounds that interfere with the readability of text.

Resources

• http://www.jimthatcher.com/webcourse7.htm
• http://colorfilter.wickline.org/

Document Structure

• Use built-in styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) to organize content.
• Include descriptive information before a bulleted list.

Resources

• Accessible word
• Accessible html

Audio/Video Content

• Ensure that multimedia (video) has synchronized captions for deaf and hard of hearing students.
• Provide audio or text descriptions for visual multimedia presentations. This requirement is critical for students with visual disabilities.
• Create transcript or script of audio/video during the production process to expedite captioning.

Resources

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRS8MkLhQmM
• http://www.automaticsync.com/caption/googlevid.htm

Tables

• Simplify tables so that a screen reader will logically read the information from left to right. Carefully label column and row headings.
• Use tables primarily to present data rather than to layout content.

Resources

• http://www.webaim.org/techniques/tables/ 

Frames

• Give titles to explain the purpose or content of the frame (e.g., Navigation, Content).

Resources

• http://www.webaim.org/techniques/frames/

Forms

• Label form fields using the <label> tag.

Resources

• http://www.webaim.org/techniques/forms/ 

Online Documents

• Provide alternative text for all images and graphics.
• Use the insert table, columns, and bulleted list features within Word and PowerPoint. Avoid using, for example, text boxes or spacing to build tables.
• Scan clean copies of materials to add to course. Make sure text is legible.
• Locate materials in already accessible formats (.html, .doc, .txt). Purchase captioned video.
• Create accessible pdfs

Resources

Accessible word

• http://www.webaim.org/techniques/word/

Accessible pdfs

• http://www.webaim.org/techniques/acrobat/
• http://www.alistapart.com/articles/pdf_accessibility
• http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/ 

PowerPoint

• Use PowerPoint templates.
• Maintain good contrast between background and text.
• Keep text on each slide to a maximum of 6 bullets.
• Give each slide a title.
• Create graphs and charts using the Chart Wizard.
• Describe complex graphs and charts in the notes section of each slide.

Resources

Accessible PowerPoint

• http://www.webaim.org/techniques/powerpoint/