Importance of Accessibility

This page will provide important information to promote accessibility of online content. This is not a professional overview, but there are many guidelines available highlighted in the links below.

Below I explain some definitions and simple suggestions for making web, PDF, and newsletters accessible. This comes both from my experience as an AT specialist, and user. I hope to present some broad yet important information.

This is a personal plea to those posting content to think of the full range of their readers. I and many other LIONS use assistive technology  to follow local and national activities. Too many times the content presented is not accessible with my screen reader.

Those of us who are blind, have low vision, or have limited hand mobility,  only use keyboard commands (no mouse). Others use dictation software, or voice feedback to support their communication or supplement their needs due to learning disabilities.

Some basic steps can help us all!

One constant concern is the labeling of graphics and photos. At times, some files are sent in the format of graphics and are not  readable. A graphic is essentially a picture and cannot be deciphered by a screen reader, and does not allow for changes in magnification.

Note: You will see unlabeled graphics on the template for this website, as fixed content can not be edited.

Accessibility: Image Alt text best practices

*I will be adding more narrative and links, so the short list below is just a beginning

Create Accessible PDFs and Remediation

PDF Remediation for Accessibility

Create accessible PDF from word

Create accessible PDFs

TPGi can assist companies with PDF remediation services.

TPGi. TPGi is part of Vispero and can assist companies with PDF remediation services.

Document accessibility

Document Accessibility

Web Accessibility Resources

Alt Text for Images

This is a well-thought-out guide to alternative text.

National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education (AccessIT)

AccessIT DO-IT

Excellent resource page with quick access to specific questions and printable hand outs.

Color contrast analyzer

enables you to optimize your content–including text and visual elements–for individuals with vision disabilities like color-blindness and low-vision impairments.

WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools

 6 Accessibility Basics Cause 97% of Errors

  • Low contrast text,
  • Missing alternative text for images,
  • Empty links,
  • Missing form input labels,
  • Empty buttons,
  • Missing document language.