Digital Content Accessibility Basics
The following points outline some of the most fundamental accessibility standards. Ensuring that the digital content that you create adheres to these basic criteria is a great place to start on the road to full compliance with applicable accessibility requirements. Also check out the Course Accessibility Checklist as a guide for faculty and visit the Technology Approval Process web page to review the process for submitting technology for approval at EFSC and links for accessibility statements for commonly used technology.
Text: Reading & Navigation Order
Logical and intuitive organization are critical. Use semantic markup to designate titles, headings, lists, emphasized text, etc., which allows assistive technologies such as screen readers to accurately read the document's text. Refer to the specific accessibility guide for the program you are using for more detailed information about establishing reading and navigation order.
Non-Text Elements & Alternative Text Equivalents
All non-text elements (images, graphics, charts, animations, etc.) should include text equivalents commonly referred to as alt-tags. View the WebAIM article on Alternative Text for comprehensive explanations and best practices for adding text equivalents to images. For more specific instructions, refer to the accessibility guide for the program used to create your content.
Multimedia Files & Videos
Equivalent alternatives must be provided for any multimedia files. Video captions must be at least 98% accurate and synchronized with the corresponding audio. Depending on the specific file format and location, there are multiple ways to add captions; however, two commonly used programs at EFSC are Kaltura and YouTube. Our Academic Technology department has created a Video Captioning Guide PDF with step-by-step instructions.
Color & Digital Accessibility
Color must not be used solely to convey important information and when color is used, sufficient contrast is provided. This Color Contrast Accessibility Validator can help you determine sufficient color contrast.
Link Best Practices
Links should be readily recognizable and understandable from the link text alone. Avoid stand-alone link text such as “click here” or “more” as this does not provide the user with any information regarding the link destination. View the WebAIM article on Links and Hypertext for useful information and best practices for creating accessible hyperlinks.
Foreign Language Online Content
The College's commitment to accessibility requires that for foreign-language classes, all visual class materials and accommodations, such as captions and alt text, be provided in the language of instruction. This ensures equal access for students with disabilities, in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. However, when course segments are designed to measure comprehension, captions or descriptions that reveal answers must be avoided to maintain academic integrity. In these cases, discretion is essential to prevent curriculum alteration or giving students unintended advantages. The same protocols applied in English-based courses should be followed consistently in foreign-language classes.