Digital Accessibility

Digital Accessibility
Quick Start Guide

For initial accessibility checks, ensure content has:

Readable fonts

Prefer sans-serif fonts for readability.

Use plain serif fonts like Cambria, Sitka, or Times New Roman.

Layout and structure

Use built-in tools for:

  • Headings
  • Lists
  • Tables
  • Titles

Appropriate use of colour

Use dark text on light backgrounds and light text on dark backgrounds.

Do not use colour alone for meaning.

Descriptive link text

Write unique, descriptive text of link destinations and use built-in tools to create hyperlinks.

Do not include bare URLs.

Text equivalents for images, videos, and audio

  1. Briefly describe the information in an image via alternative text or figure captions.
  2. Use Kaltura or OneDrive to generate captions and edit for accuracy.
  3. Provide text transcripts of audio recordings.

Been evaluated by an accessibility checker

Use tools, such as accessibility checkers in Office programs and Brightspace, to check for common accessibility issues.

Many platforms have tools and features that were designed to create accessible material by default. When used as intended software like Word, PowerPoint, and Brightspace create content that is accessible with no additional steps, hacks, or workarounds required.

Prefer formats such as HTML, Docx, and EPUB that allow user customization, as opposed to rigid formats like PDF or images of text. The greatest affordance for individuality is customization.

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Accessibility Handbook for Teaching and Learning Copyright © 2023 by Briana Fraser and Luke McKnight is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.