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Accessibility

Web accessibility has many components. Legally, the most pertinent legislation is the following:

A "system" was created to meet the requirements set down by these laws.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (now on version 2.0 and usually referred to as WCAG)

The University of San Diego is legally required to comply with these laws to ensure that all of our students, faculty, and staff can use our websites.

The Web Team has incorporated solutions to the majority of accessibility requirements into Cascade. However, as content contributors, there are a few things maintainers need to be aware of and with which they must comply.

The guide below demonstrates how to successfully comply with the most common accessibility issues maintainers face. 

  • Descriptive Link Text – Avoid using generic, or duplicate text for hyperlinks. This is most frequently seen with the use of "click here."
  • PDF Accessibility – Ensure text is accessible, and documents are not scanned images. Here is a site that covers how to convert an inaccessible PDF into an accessible PDF.
  • Images – Images should have an appropriate "alt tag." Any text contained in the image must be placed in the alt (but, image-based text should generally be avoided).
  • Headings – Never use heading 1. All page titles are automatically set as Heading 1 by default. Verify order and need for headings.
  • Tables – Tables should have a summary and have properly labeled header cells if appropriate. See Data Tables Accessibility.



Descriptive Link Text

All links must have text which remains meaningful even without context. People using screen readers may not have access to anything outside of the link text to inform them about the link.

Avoid using links such as "click here," and "RSVP."

Below are examples of accessible links and an inaccessible links.




Accessible Link Examples

Spring Schedule

Fall Schedule

Click here for the Spring Schedule

RSVP for the Winter Fundraiser


Inaccessible Link Examples

Click here

Click here for the Spring Schedule

RSVP

RSVP for the Winter Fundraiser

Here



Accessible Documents (PDFs)

Many users upload and link to PDFs and other document types. We must ensure that all documents are accessible.

Generally, try clicking on the text in the document and see if it highlights the text. If it does, then it should be accessible.

However, if the entire page or the entire document becomes highlights, then it is probably a "flat image." This means that as far as computers are concerned, what looks like words to us is simply a random assortment of colors.

How to Convert a PDF to Be Accessible


Accessible Document


Inaccessible Document


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