Creating Accessible Documents

Webster University Teaching Resource Center

Creating Accessible Documents

Below are eight key principles to keep in mind when designing content for online consumption. These principles are based on information from:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Links to an external site.
Web Accessibility Initiative (W3C Links to an external site.)
Web Accessibility in Mind (WebAIM Links to an external site.)

Principle	Description	Resources to Enact Change
Provide appropriate alternative text Links to an external site.	Alternative text provides a textual alternative to non-text content in web pages. It is especially helpful for people who are blind and rely on a screen reader to have the content of the website read to them.	Images in Canvas Links to an external site. Images in Word docs Links to an external site.
Provide appropriate document structure Links to an external site.	Headings, lists, and other structural elements provide meaning and structure to web pages. They can also facilitate keyboard navigation within the page.	Adding styles to content in Canvas Links to an external site.
Provide headers for data tables Links to an external site.	Tables are used online for layout and to organize data. Tables that are used to organize tabular data should have appropriate table headers (the <th> element). Data cells should be associated with their appropriate headers, making it easier for screen reader users to navigate and understand the data table.	Creating accessible tables in Canvas Links to an external site.
Ensure links make sense out of context Links to an external site.	Every link should make sense if the link text is read by itself. Screen reader users may choose to read only the links on a web page. Certain phrases like "click here" and "more" must be avoided.	Create links Links to an external site. Links to an external site. Validate links Links to an external site.
Caption and/or provide transcripts for media Links to an external site.	Videos and live audio must have captions and a transcript. With archived audio, a transcription may be sufficient.	Add captions to videos in Canvas Links to an external site.
Ensure accessibility of non-HTML content, including PDF files Links to an external site., Microsoft Word Links to an external site. documents, PowerPoint Links to an external site. presentations and Adobe Flash Links to an external site. content.	In addition to all of the other principles listed here, PDF documents and other non-HTML content must be as accessible as possible. If you cannot make it accessible, consider using HTML instead or, at the very least, provide an accessible alternative. PDF documents should also include a series of tags to make it more accessible. A tagged PDF file looks the same, but it is almost always more accessible to a person using a screen reader.	Make Word docs accessible Links to an external site. Make PDFs accessible Links to an external site. PDF accessibility overview Links to an external site. Make PowerPoints accessible Links to an external site.
Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning Links to an external site.	The use of color can enhance comprehension, but do not use color alone to convey information. That information may not be available to a person who is colorblind and will be unavailable to screen reader users.	Accessibility 101: Principles of Accessible Design
Make sure content is clearly written and easy to read Links to an external site.	There are many ways to make your content easier to understand.	Use clear fonts Links to an external site. Use headings and lists appropriately Links to an external site.

FAQs

Why is accessibility important? (Click for more information)

Does this limit my academic freedom?

Students can get accommodations through the Academic Resource Center. How is this different?

Do I need to convert all of my documents into accessible electronic documents?

Are there any tools I can use to check the accessibility of my online course?

What can I do right now to increase the accessibility in my course?

What are some ways to provide accommodations to students?

Resources

Federal

Web Accessibility Standards

Tools