Introduction to Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility refers to designing and developing digital content, websites, applications, and technology in a way that ensures people with disabilities can perceive, navigate, interact with, and contribute to them. It involves making digital resources usable for individuals with a range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.

• Digital accessibility is essential for creating an inclusive campus where everyone can participate fully in academic and social activities.
• By making our digital content accessible, we ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access and engage with our resources.
• This not only complies with legal requirements but also reflects our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Apart from supporting our mission to create inclusive environments, digital accessibility benefits all individuals, including those with temporary impairments or situational limitations.
• Digital accessibility has many other benefits, including improved user experience, increased audience reach, and enhanced brand reputation.

Digital accessibility is built on four key principles that ensure websites, applications, and digital content are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. These principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—are the foundation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and help create an inclusive digital experience.

1. Perceivable

Users must be able to perceive the content, meaning that information and user interface components must be presented in ways that all users can recognize. Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This means that users must be able to perceive the information being presented (it can’t be invisible to all of their senses).This includes providing:

• Text alternatives for non-text content (e.g., alt text for images)
• Captions and transcripts for multimedia
• Flexible presentation options, such as adjusting text size and color contrast

2. Operable

Individuals must be able to navigate and interact with a website or application. Content should be designed to accommodate different input methods and avoid barriers. User interface components and navigation must be operable. This means that users must be able to operate the interface (the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform), Key considerations include:

• Keyboard accessibility for users who cannot use a mouse
• Enough time to read and interact with content
• Avoidance of content that triggers seizures (e.g., flashing animations)
• Clear and consistent navigation

3. Understandable

Content and interfaces should be clear and predictable so users can easily comprehend and navigate them. This means that users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface (the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding). To enhance understandability, technology and content must be:

• Readable text with clear language and structure
• Predictable navigation and interface behavior
• Input assistance, such as form field instructions and error messages

4. Robust

Content must be accessible to a variety of users, including those using assistive technologies. This means that users must be able to access the content as technologies advance (as technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible). A robust website or application should:

• Use clean and semantic HTML that works across different browsers and devices
• Support assistive technologies like screen readers
• Regularly update to remain compatible with evolving technologies

Below are basic accessibility concepts and best practices:

Alt Text for All Images

• Alternative text (alt text) provides a textual description of images for users who rely on screen readers.
• Alt text should clearly convey the purpose of the image, whether it is decorative, informative, or functional. Avoid vague descriptions like “image123” and instead describe key details relevant to the content.

Proper Use of Color

• Color should not be the only way information is conveyed.
• Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background to improve readability for people with low vision or color blindness. Use alternative indicators like text labels, patterns, or symbols alongside color coding.

Use of Descriptive Links

• Hyperlinks should be meaningful and provide context.
• Instead of generic text like “Click here” or “Read more,” use descriptive language such as “Download the accessibility guide” or “Learn more about inclusive design.” This helps users with screen readers navigate more effectively.

Readability

• Content should be easy to read and understand. Use clear, concise language, avoid jargon, and break up text with headings and bullet points. Choose fonts and sizes that enhance readability, and provide an option for text resizing without loss of functionality.

Semantic Structure

• Semantic structure refers to the use of proper HTML elements to organize content in a meaningful and hierarchical way. This helps both users and assistive technologies understand the relationships between different parts of a webpage.
• Use proper HTML elements (e.g., H1, H2,  etc.) to structure content logically. This improves navigation for screen reader users and ensures that assistive technologies can interpret content in a meaningful order.

Tables

• Tables should be used for data, not for layout design. Ensure tables have clear headers () and captions to describe their purpose.
• Avoid complex table structures that may be difficult for screen readers to interpret.

Videos (Captions & Audio Description)

• All video content should include captions for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Captions should be accurate, synchronized, and include speaker identification and sound effects when relevant.
• Audio descriptions should be provided for visually impaired users when necessary, offering narration of key visual elements.