Accesibility Checklist - ADA Compliance for Online Courses

    Text

    • Use Arial or Calibri font for easy readability. Recommended body text size is 12 point.

    • Use dark font colors on light backgrounds for strong contrast. Black text on white background is the best.

    • Avoid overuse of all CAPS, bold, and italics.

    • Color is not the only way to emphasize text. For example: color and bold are both used to convey importance.

    • Avoid underlining words as the screen reader can mistake it for a navigation link.

    • Avoid blinking or moving text.

    • Real text is used, not embedded in a graphic that cannot be read by a screen reader.

    Webpage Links and Email

    • Provide wording or phrase for links. Avoid using the phrase, “click here” or “read this” for the links.

    • Use concise text descriptions for the links telling where link is taking user.  

    Example: Faculty Teaching and Learning Website (opens in new window)

    • If link opens in new window, state in parenthesis after link.

    • For email addresses, write out entire email address. Example: support@smccd.edu

    Images

    • Images are clear.

    • Use of animated images is limited to only those that contribute to the learning experience and supporting the course content.

    • Avoid animated or blinking images, text, or cursors. These can cause seizures for some users.

    • All images have alt-text with meaningful descriptions. Note: When using alt text, place text in the description box not the title box.

    Audio

    • Audio quality is clear.

    • A written transcript is provided with all audio files.

    Video

    • Video quality is clear.

    • Video is accurately closed captioned.

    • File lengths are adequate to meet the goals of the activity.

    Tables

    • Use sparingly- screen readers can have a difficult time reading them.

    • Identify which row contains the column headers. To do this go to table properties and click row then select repeat as header row for the top of each page.

    Word Documents/Google Docs

    PowerPoint Presentations/Google Slides

    • Each slide is created with the program’s default slide layout such as title and content slide. Do not use blank slides.

    • Lists are structured with bulleted or numbered list options.

    • Images have a meaningful alt text description.

    • Each slide has a unique title.

    Accessible PDF File from Document You Created

    • Use built-in styles such as headings and subheadings.

    • Use bulleted or numbered list options.

    • Add alt text to images.

    • Create pdf by:

      • Save file

      • Save As

      • Change Save As Type to "pdf"

      • Select Options

      • Place checkmark by the following options:

        • Create bookmarks using -- Headings

        • Document properties

        • Document structure tags for accessibility

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