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Web Communication Accessibility

May 16 | Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2019

Thursday, May 16, is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The purpose of GAAD is to get those who create electronic and information technology (websites, software, mobile apps, online documents, etc.) thinking and learning about making accessible and inclusive technology for users with varying abilities.

On May 16, take an hour to:

Web Accessibility Update

If you have already taken the online web accessibility training:

  1. Thank you for taking the training and making web accessibility a priority here at Washington State University.
  2. You should have received a certificate via email on September 17, 2018 as an appreciation of completion.

Anyone who takes the training and passes (with 70%+) in the future will receive their certificate via email immediately after completion.

Please stay tuned as we schedule future web accessibility workshops.

Using Browser Accessibility Tools to Audit Websites Workshop

Monday, June 25, 3 – 4 p.m.
Spark Academic Innovation Hub 327 (Pullman) and live-streamed (All Campuses)

This advanced workshop is for website owners, web publishers, web content creators, and anyone who has learned the fundamentals of web accessibility and now seeks to learn how to test a website to ensure it is compliant with web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.0, AA).

During this workshop, participants will learn how to use web browser accessibility tools to:

  • Ensure that web pages and/or websites are in compliance
  • Identify web accessibility warnings and issues
  • Understand the meaning of web accessibility warnings and issues
  • Determine the best way to fix issues to ensure and improve web accessibility

Register Now

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2018


May 17th is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD is to get those developing electronic and information technology thinking and learning about making technology accessible and inclusive for users with varying abilities.

On May 17th, take an hour to experience first-hand the impact of digital accessibility.

Mandatory web accessibility training is online

The online web accessibility training is available for all web publishers at Washington State University. The yearly training is designed to help increase awareness and knowledge around web accessibility. The training is mandatory in accordance with Executive Policy 7 and the Business Policies and Procedures Manual 85.55.

Training details

Training link: go.wsu.edu/web-accessibility

Who needs to take the training: All web developers, content publishers, editors, domain owners, or anyone who has any other role in updating WSU web content.

Training must be completed yearly.

Web support and community

The WSU web community offers services to help you make your websites accessible. In addition to online training, you can take advantage of monthly workshops, online resources, and in-person support.

Web communication site

The web communication site provides accessibility resources for content creators, as well as scheduling and registration information for training sessions and workshops.

Web accessibility workshops

Strong working knowledge of accessibility issues and requirements is essential for web communicators. These free workshops keep your knowledge up to date.

Web open lab

Fridays, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
ITB 2025, Pullman campus

Drop in to exchange ideas and get answers to your questions. Web Communications staff lead these weekly sessions. All are welcome to attend.

Online communication platform

Connect with more than 150 members of the WSU web community on the Slack web communication channel. Join conversations, ask questions, and share solutions to accessibility challenges.

Upcoming WSU Spine 2.0.0 release

As part of our ongoing effort to make the web at Washington State University accessible, the default template provided by the WSU Spine is being updated to meet WCAG 2.0 AA.

This 2.0.0 release will be a breaking change and will not be pushed automatically to sites that are using repo.wsu.edu/spine/1/. Development is in progress on the WSU Spine GitHub repository and we expect to release 2.0.0 on Monday, February 26.

Testing on custom sites can begin immediately with the following assets:

  • https://repo.wsu.edu/spine/branch/style-guide-work/spine.min.css
  • https://repo.wsu.edu/spine/branch/style-guide-work/spine.min.js

The WSU Spine Parent theme in WordPress will be updated to support version 2.0.0 shortly after release.

Highlights from WSU Spine 2.0.0:

  • Add screen reader shortcuts for main content and navigation to example HTML.
  • Add global styles for screen reader shortcuts.
  • Apply the default Spine color to #glue to help avoid false positives when automatically scanning for accessibility issues.
  • Remove handling of a transparent Spine.
  • Darken default body color to #2a3033.
  • Set body text to the root element font size, effectively increasing the default font size from 14px to 16px.
  • Remove em fallbacks for header font size.
  • Set line-height to 1.1 instead of 100% on small
  • Fix input styles so that font size matches root by default.
  • Set the default input color slightly darker – #717171 on #ffffff.
  • Re-introduce default browser :focus handling (outline).
  • Show default underline on anchors in main.
  • Restore :focus outline on Spine action tab buttons.
  • Improve the experience of the Spine search input field.
  • Avoid trapping a keyboard user in the Spine search input.
  • Fix and accurately describe the social media directory link.
  • Hide Spine navigation from screen readers when focus is on an open action tab.
  • Add more descriptive link text for share options in Spine.
  • Append Spine action sections to li rather than parent section to make screen reader behavior and keyboard navigation more natural.
  • Fix contrast issue with social sharing anchors.

If you have any questions or find any issues, please leave feedback on the WSU Spine GitHub repository, in the WSU Web Slack, or via our contact form.

Web accessibility update

Washington State University websites must be accessible to everyone who attends, works at, and enjoys the University.

New policy and procedures govern web accessibility

WSU recently updated its web accessibility policy, Executive Policy #7 (EP7), and added web accessibility procedures. The new policy and procedures strengthen the University’s ability to make its websites accessible to a diverse community. They set standards for WSU electronic and information technology (EIT) that are consistent with state and federal accessibility guidelines, regulations, and laws.

WSU employees must uphold accessibility standards

It is your responsibility to ensure that content that you create or update for WSU is accessible and complies with the revised policy and guidelines.

Required training

Starting in January 2018, WSU will offer web accessibility training online. Registration information will be announced after the first of the year.

Training is mandatory

If you are a web developer, content publisher, editor, domain owner, or have any other role in updating WSU web content, the University requires you to participate in training annually. You must complete training before publishing WSU web content.

Please share this information

If you are not directly involved in your department’s web content development, please forward this message to the appropriate staff.

Support services

The WSU Web Communications staff offers services to help you make your websites accessible. In addition to online training, you can take advantage of monthly workshops, online resources, and in-person support.

Monthly workshops

Strong working knowledge of accessibility issues and requirements is essential for web communicators. These free monthly workshops keep your knowledge up to date.

JANUARY 2018 WORKSHOP

Writing for the web and making content accessible

Thursday, Jan. 4,
3:00–4:00 p.m.

Spark Academic Innovation Hub 212 (Pullman)

Live-streamed online (all campuses) This workshop introduces best practices for writing accessible web content. Whether you are a full-time web writer or you occasionally update content on your department’s website, you will learn how to create content that is accessible, organized, and succinct.

Register now

WSU web accessibility website

Bookmark this site! The web accessibility site provides resources for content creators, as well as scheduling and registration information for training sessions and workshops.

Web open lab

Fridays, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
ITB 2025, Pullman campus

Drop in to exchange ideas and get answers to your questions. Web Communications staff lead these weekly sessions. All are welcome to attend.

Online communication platform

Connect with more than 150 members of the WSU web community on the Slack communication channel. Join conversations, ask questions, and share solutions to accessibility challenges.

Workshop: Writing for the Web and Making it Accessible

Thursday, Jan. 4, 3 – 4 p.m.

Spark Academic Innovation Hub 212 (Pullman) and live-streamed (All Campuses)

Writing for the Web and Making it Accessible

This workshop provides an introduction to the best practices for writing accessible web content. Whether you are an experienced web writer, or you update content on your department’s website only once a semester, learn what you need to know to ensure that your unit’s websites are accessible, organized, and succinct. In this workshop, you will learn:

  • How to create descriptive links
  • How to create a clear heading structure
  • Appropriate line length for the web
  • How to write concise and logical text
  • How to convey meaning without using color alone
  • Additional web writing and content organizing tips

Please register for the workshop

Access the live-stream on January 4th