All electronic documents and web content must adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards.

Students, Employees

Web sites and digitally accessible files and content.

There are many accessibility guidelines, but following are some basic steps that can be taken to ensure digital content is accessible on the web.

• HTML format with simple structured headings and outlines are ideal for accessibility.
• Use short, descriptive file names and titles that describe the purpose of the content.
• Use alternative descriptive text on decorative embedded images.
• Avoid using images to convey information that could be conveyed using headings and regular text.
• Avoid using linked PDF files and Word documents to convey information that could be conveyed using regular text, easily copied into a web (HTML) page. If you absolutely must use a PDF or Word document, please run the file through Adobe Acrobat's accessibility checker or Microsoft Word's built-in accessibility checkers. However, these workarounds likely will not meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. It's always best to simply utilize HTML files.
• Create links that describe the topic to which you are going, which are easily scanned and would make sense to a screen reader. (Example: Digital Accessibility Tips)
• Avoid the use of vague wording on links or entire web addresses:
  • Don't use "click here" or "here" as linked text. Click here means nothing in context of screen readers, or search engine optimization. (Avoid: For digital accessibility tips, click here.)
  • Don't use entire web addresses (Avoid: For digital accessibility tips visit: https://asanewsletter.org/category/digital-accessibility-tips)
• Use basic high contrast colors (Example: dark text on white background).
• Make sure content is keyboard and tab accessible.
• Avoid using tables for visual layout. Tables are best for data sets.
• Add closed captioning for video content.
• Use a clear and consistent heading structure, followed by relevant content, to organize content (Note: do not skip headings, ie: H1, then H3):

  • Heading 1

    • content goes here

  • Heading 2

    • content goes here

    • Heading 3

      • content goes here

    • Heading 3 

      • content goes here

  • Heading 2

    • content goes here
    • more content goes here

Links to additional resources.

• ASA Newsletter Digital Accessibility Tips