Resources
The degree to which a digital resource or tool is accessible to someone may vary depending on the technology in use, types of materials, and a person’s circumstances, but striving to make your digital teaching and meetings more accessible can be of benefit to all students and colleagues. Here are a few suggestions to get you started in providing a more accessible experience:
- Use color thoughtfully. Use colors with good contrast and be sure that color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information.
- For presentations and multimedia resources, provide equivalent alternatives like transcripts, captions, and accessible PowerPoint slides. During presentations, describe what you share on your screen so you convey the meaning of visual elements and are verbally explicit about anything you are demonstrating.
- Provide good alt text for images so that the intended contextualized message of your image is conveyed to a broader audience, including those who can’t see the image.
- Link names are most useful when they make sense out of context. Rather than using an ambiguous name like “Click Here,” use link names that tell someone what information they should expect. For example, WebAIM: Links and Hypertext is a more descriptive link name than Read More.
- Make more accessible Word documents and improve PDF accessibility with good document structure and by using the built-in Word Accessibility Checker and Adobe Acrobat Accessibility tools. Create and deliver documents in the most usable and accessible format(s) for the circumstances.
As campus engagement increasingly includes digital mediums, the IS Technology Accessibility team is available for consultation on accessibility best practices and resources for faculty and staff. Contact tap@wfu.edu to discuss how they can support your work.
Submit Feedback
Accessibility of technology and digital content is an ongoing process, and we’re always open to learning about new ideas or ways to improve how we’re doing. Report accessibility challenges encountered on this page or send us general feedback.