Making Websites Accessible

This checklist is a starting place for those new to web accessibility, and it highlights some of the most common issues found within websites in higher education.

  • All videos should include captions and an available transcript file.
    Note: Audio descriptions are recommended for nonverbal action sequences.
  • All podcasts (audio lectures, interviews, talks, etc.) should include text transcripts.
  • All content can be accessed using only a keyboard. A focus style is used so keyboard users can clearly see where they are on the page (i.e., a:focus).
  • All images should include appropriate alternative text (i.e., the “alt” attribute).
  • All form fields should have labels (i.e., <label>), or if a label cannot be used, the title or aria-title attribute should be utilized.
  • All data tables should have defined table headers (i.e., <th>).
    Note: Additional tags and attributes may be needed for complex tables.
  • All content is still available when zoomed at 200%. Text can be resized.
  • There is sufficient color contrast to easily read text. Additionally, color alone should not be utilized to convey important information.
  • All pages should have a “skip nav” or “skip to main content” link at the top of page.
  • All PDFs, when they must be used, are text instead of scanned images of text.

Additional resources

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