Digital Accessibility
Digital Accessibility is the practice of making digital documents, web and mobile apps accessible to everyone so that people of all abilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with digital content, such as web pages and documents. It removes barriers that might prevent individuals with different tools and needs from accessing information, and it benefits everyone by promoting inclusive, user-friendly design.
Making content accessible is not only a matter of equity and usability—it is often also a legal requirement and a core part of digital best practices.
Requirements
Accessibility is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To be compliant, we adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG, pronounced “wuh-cag”), specifically:
- WCAG Level 2.1 AA
These international standards have four accessibility principles, sometimes known by the acronym, “POUR”:- Perceivable: People can perceive content through at least one of their senses. Example: People who are Blind can use web content by having a screen reader read it to them.
- Operable: People can use interactive elements, no matter how they are interacting with the content. Example: People who can’t use their hands should be able to click buttons using dictation software.
- Understandable: People should be able to understand what the content means and how to use it. It should be predictable and consistent. Example: People using any device or assistive technology should be able to identify links and understand what happens when they click them.
- Robust: When websites are designed according the best practices, people should be able to use them on any device or with any type of assistive technology.
Best Practices
The best way to make a document accessible to people with disabilities is to plan before you start creating your document or web page.
Structure Content
All digital content needs to have structure: a title, headings and subheadings, and lists. Avoid making your own formatting for these. Instead, use the built-in style tools to set the title, headings, and bulleted and numbered lists.
- Use headings and lists with formatting tools—not just bold or spacing. Organize your content with headings and subheadings to be easier to follow and understand.
- Use plain language—keep content concise and avoid complex language.
Alternative Text
- Add alt text to images so that screen readers can describe visuals to users who are visually impaired or have chosen to view content without images. Learn more about Alt Text for Images.
- Include captions and transcripts to videos.
Resources
Guides
Compliance Standard
Presentation Slides
Assistive Technology
- Resource page on the accessibility office website
- SensusAccess document conversion
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