LibGuides SOP

Below is a list of some fundamental principles of accessibility.

• Provide appropriate alternative (alt) text on all images. It provides meaning for non-text items for people who rely on a screen reader to have the content of the website read to them.
• Set non-essential images to decorative (see Multimedia > Images for instructions on how to do this). This removes these images from being read by a screen reader, reducing confusion and excess for non-visual users.
• Provide appropriate document structure. For example, heading four should not come before heading three, etc.
• Ensure links make sense to readers when read by themselves. Phrases like "click here" and "more" must be avoided.
• Videos and audio must have closed captioning and a transcript.
• Ensure non-HTML content (PDFs, Word documents, etc.) is accessible. If you cannot make it accessible, consider using HTML or provide an accessible alternative. PDF documents should also include a series of tags to make them more accessible to a person using a screen reader.
• Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning, as that information may not be available to a person who is colorblind or using a screen reader. The use of color can enhance comprehension but should not be the sole method of conveying information.
• Make sure the content is written clearly and is easy to read.

Auditing websites and content for accessibility is a multi-step process. While automated tools can help, it is impossible to rely on them alone. Always verify the results of a computerized checking tool to ensure that something marked as a failure is genuinely a failure.

Basic steps for an audit:

1. Use your keyboard to navigate through the page.
2. Attempt to navigate the page using a screen reader with your monitor turned off. You can find a screen reader in the Software Center or, for newer computers, the Company Portal.
3. Run the page through an automated testing tool (like the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) and check on any issues identified as possible fails.
4. Use a color contrast analyzer if the automated testing tool does not check color contrast.
5. Run the page through a markup validation tool.
6. Watch any videos embedded on the page to ensure the closed captioning is accurate.