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ADA Compliant Libguides

 

Universal Web Accessibility: Not Just a Good Idea-It's the Law

As a public University we have a mandate to serve all of the people of the state of Massachusetts. This includes a wide array of learning styles. People who see, hear, and move in ways which differ from the majority are included in this legal mandate.

Assistive devices navigate through what many take for granted- the internet. We have a responsibility to ensure that these devices can navigate the web pages we generate. In the case of Libguides this job is made easier by the thorough and responsive job which Springshare does in designing the html behind the pages we create. However, universal accessibility is still in our hands.

Simple Steps

There a few simple habits to develop when making libguides. 

  • include alt text with all visual images
  • embed video so that captions are available
  • ensure PDF's have Optical Character Recognition, have a tag structure, and the title properties are set correctly.
  • ensure sufficient contrast when using color
  • avoid using color to convey meaning, (as in certain graphs and charts).

 

Using PDF's

PDF' should be optimized for screen readers. This can be done by sending them to the Accessibility & Accommodations Office.

Adding Alt Text

The law requires that images in websites be embedded to include a textual alternative for the subject of the image so that people using assistive devices can form an idea of the image. Alt text, as this required component of web images is called, should not just be notional; it should describe in as vivid terms as possible what the image depicts.

How to be Color Aware

Colors on the web must be of sufficient contrast to be read with ease by persons of low sight, including those of achromatic vision, (color blindness).

There are websites where color contrast can be checked for this purpose, which include both AA and AAA levels of ADA compliance.