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Accessibility Checklist

This guide contains major best practices for creating accessible online content. This guide used to be part of the LibGuides Editor training but has become a standalone guide.

Accessibility Checklist

Accessibility Checklist

Focusing on these eight best practices will increase the accessibility of your LibGuides. Each page outlines why the accessibility practice important and how to quickly implement it in new or existing guides. 

1. Web Writing

Avoid library jargon, tailor your content to your audience, and use white space to increase the accessibility of your text.

2. Designing for Mobile

Test your page and content layout in various sizes and on your mobile device. The editor screen is not how your guide will appear "live."

3. Images

All images *must* have alternative text to ensure all users can understand the content on your page. This is an easy, but important step for accessibility.

4. URLs and Hypertext

Linking users to and from your guides involves friendly URLs for pages and descriptions for how the link fits into your content. 

5. Using Color

Avoid color to decorate or describe something important; not all users experience color in the same way. 

6. Tables

Tables should have a descriptive title and clear headings to show the relationship between the aspects of your data. 

7. Videos

Media added to LibGuides or created for use online should have closed captions so all users can understand the information presented.

8. Documents

Documents uploaded to LibGuides should be reviewed for accessibility. Avoid uploading PDFs. 

 

Accessibility Framing

Accessibility Framing

Creating accessible online content is good for student success and the law. This guide shares basic tips to assist your accessibility checks of LibGuides. These tips are also handy for creating new content with accessibility in mind. Some important definitions include:

  • Accessibility: addresses discriminatory aspects related to equivalent user experience for people with disabilities. Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can equally perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with websites and tools. It also means that they can contribute equally without barriers. 
  • Usability: is about designing products to be effective, efficient, and satisfying. Usability includes user experience design. This may include general aspects that impact everyone and do not disproportionately impact people with disabilities. Usability practice and research often does not sufficiently address the needs of people with disabilities. 
  • Inclusion: is about diversity and ensuring involvement of everyone to the greatest extent possible. In some regions this is also referred to as universal design and design for all. 

Henry, S. L., Abou-Zahra, S., and White, K. (2016). Accessibility, Inclusion, and Usability. Retrieved from https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-usability-inclusion/ 

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