Accessibility Resources

Let’s show you why using the tools built-into Office docs can make better docs and a better experience for everyone. We’ll cover Check Accessibility button, Alt Text, merged cells, PowerPoint Live, and more in this short video. More how-to lessons below.

The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative offers an images tutorial that includes a decision tree for the alternative text for images.

To ensure digital content is accessible, color must not be used alone to convey important information or to demonstrate emphasis.

A tool for checking color contrast ratio.

Core concepts address a majority of the barriers to digital content and technology.

Learn how to create accessible Microsoft Word documents that conform to the Revised 508 Standards.

Prebuilt Excel templates can help save time and improve accessibility in the content that you create.

Put the content in your PowerPoint slides in the intended reading order so the screen readers read it correctly for users with a vision or reading disability.

Learn how to open and use the Accessibility Checker to find issues that make Word difficult for people with disabilities.

We want to make your document accessible to everyone, especially to people who use assistive devices. Below are some key components on how to make your document more accessible within Microsoft Word 2016.

The Attorney General signed a final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The final rule has specific requirements about how to ensure that web content and mobile applications (apps) are accessible to people with disabilities.

The objective of this technique is to limit the use of links or buttons that open new windows or tabs within Web content. In general, it is better not to open new windows and tabs since they can be disorienting for people, especially people who have difficulty perceiving visual content.

Screen readers interpret what is on the screen. They can read most text easily and accurately, but how do they handle special punctuation and characters? Let’s find out!

Links opening in new windows are an accessibility barrier we find on most websites we audit. Opening links in new windows (or tabs) changes the context. Opening a link in a new window can be disorienting for someone who isn’t able to perceive the change. They may not understand that they can’t use the “back” button on their browser to return to previous content.

Deque articles.

NVDA for Windows Keyboard Commands (pdf).

From: The Top 10 Web Design Mistakes of 1999
Don’t break the Back button.

The objective of this technique is to limit the use of links or buttons that open new windows or tabs within Web content. In general, it is better not to open new windows and tabs since they can be disorienting for people, especially people who have difficulty perceiving visual content. 

Adobe Acrobat DC Portable Document Format (PDF)

Guidance developed by the Accessible Electronic Documents Community of Practice (AED COP).

The video is several years old. NVDA for Windows Keyboard Commands (pdf).

Lots of useful information (quotes and links) about the usage of carousels.

Microsoft Excel

Links, title, and aria-label, and assistive technology

Text Alignment, Margins, Padding, and White Spacing, Line Length, and Text Decorations

New technology and conventions have led to several new classes of usability problems in Web design. Consider reading these sections, Breaking or Slowing Down the Back Button, Opening New Browser Windows, and Headlines That Make No Sense Out of Context.

This page introduces some basic considerations to help you get started writing web content that is more accessible to people with disabilities.

WSU Brand Colors Contrast Grid.