Are your Files Accessible?

It is important to include content that meets accessibility guidelines when you develop content for your department or program webpage. For a website to be accessible, its content must be available to everyone, including people with disabilities.

Here are a few guidelines to follow as you develop your web content:

REDDOT

• Include ALT text (alternative text) for each image.
  
  See "Changing Image Properties" section in the RedDot Tutorial.

PDF

• Specify a language for your document.
  
  file > document properties > advanced > language
  
  
• Include ALT text for each figure.
  
  Add ALT text to figures before converting to pdf or
  
  Add ALT text to figures after converting to pdf (advanced > accessibility > touchup reading order>rt click on figure> edit alternate text)

 

• Add fillable form fields. Add descriptions to form fields.
  
  advanced > forms > edit fillable form > right-click on field > properties > general > tooltip (type description here)

• See How-to-Guides for creating accessible PDF files.

Resources for Developing Accessible Online Content

http://www.jimthatcher.com/webcourse1.htm

This website includes easy-to-follow tutorials about web accessibility for Section 508. Each section includes graphics as well as text descriptions to illustrate issues related to the topic. This site is highly recommended for anyone who wants to become more familiar with accessibility standards.

WebAIM lists each 508 standard with "pass" and "fail" criteria in separate columns.

This University of Washington webpage includes a comprehensive list of resources related to distance education and accessibility. This page includes good information about creating video and multimedia products that are accessible to people with sensory impairments..

Vischeck provides free tools to check images and webpages for problems related to color vision deficits.

This Adobe Acrobat resource includes several user guides to assist with developing accessible documents.

Page last updated: 12/1/2005 9:12