Making Web Content Accessible to EveryoneWeb Accessibility Team

June 9, 2015

The Web Accessibility Team

The Web Accessibility team is based in the central IT department, as a part of Web Platform Services.

• Lucy Greco• Caroline Boyden• Anna Gazdowicz

We are here to make you better communicators! If your communications are accessible, you can be assured that your message will be delivered to everyone.

The UC Information Technology Accessibility Policy

Introduction

What Does the Policy Say?

• Everyone at UC Berkeley (students, faculty, staff, parents) needs to access your content.

• Electronic content includes, but is not limited to: websites, forms, documents, emails, videos, posters, and more.

• If electronic content cannot be presented in an accessible format, then accommodations and/or alternate formats must be provided.

What Does the Policy Mean for You?

Communicators and Content Creators

What Does the Policy Mean for You, as Communicators and Content Creators?

• When choosing a medium of communication, understand the accessible ramifications.

• Keeping your content simple makes it more accessible.

• If there are accessibility barriers in your communications, your message will not reach everyone.

How Members of Your Audience Will Benefit

Web Accessibility and Your Community

Members of Your Audience

• Keyboard-only and assistive technology users

• Captioning for the hearing impaired

Screen Reader Demonstration

Campus Resources

Web Accessibility at Berkeley

Campus Resources

• Web Accessibility Services (clinics)

• Web Accessibility Website (http://webaccess.berkeley.edu/)

• Open Berkeley (http://open.berkeley.edu/)

Top 5 Tips for Making Your Content Accessible

Easy Ways to be Accessible

Top 5 Tips for Making Your Website, Email Campaign, etc. Accessible

• When including links in your content, use text that properly describes where the link will go.

• The most unique content of the link should be presented first.

• No “click here” links! “Click here” links are ineffective for screen reader users, and overall will make all site visitors have to work harder to interpret your content.

1. Give your links unique and descriptive names.

Top 5 Tips for Making Your Website, Email Campaign, etc. Accessible

• Proper heading structure (<h1>, <h2>, etc.) helps organize your content.

• Screen reader users can use heading structure to navigate content.

• Follow the correct order (don’t skip heading levels).

• Separate presentation from structure.

2. Use headings correctly to organize the structure of your content.

Top 5 Tips for Making Your Website, Email Campaign, etc. Accessible

• Add alt text to images, so screen reader users can understand the message conveyed by the use of the image (also good for SEO and general usability!). Alt text is a requirement for hyperlinked images.

• Don’t display content using ONLY an image (such as an infographic or a poster).

• With video content, add closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

3. Use images properly and provide captioning for videos.

Top 5 Tips for Making Your Website, Email Campaign, etc. Accessible

• Before choosing a CMS, check if there is any documentation on accessibility.

• Follow the same practice when choosing themes, templates, modules, plugins, etc.

• For any external modules or plugins such as editing toolbars and video players, make sure they produce accessible content.

4. Choose a content management system that supports accessibility.

Top 5 Tips for Making Your Website, Email Campaign, etc. Accessible

• Whether you work with a team on campus to develop your website, or you have hired an external vendor, advocate for accessibility and make sure it’s a part of the development process.

• Test for accessibility often, especially when any new features are implemented.

5. Work with your web development team often to test your website for accessibility.

webaccess@berkeley.edu

Any questions?