What Is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility means designing and creating digital materials—such as websites, emails, newsletters, PDFs, presentations, documents, videos, and software—so that individuals with disabilities can effectively perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the digital material.
The Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") establishes that individuals with disabilities can access important web content and mobile apps quickly, easily, independently, privately, and equally. Similar to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design that set uniform design principles for buildings, parking lots, and other spaces, the ADA sets uniform principles for digital content, called the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ("WCAG").
In 2024, the Department of Justice established federal guidelines for digital accessibility compliance under Title II of the ADA. The compliance deadlines are April 2027 for larger entities and April 2028 for smaller entities, like Tulane. Therefore, every student, faculty, and staff member is responsible for creating and remediating accessible digital content.
Basic Principles of Digital Accessibility
Headings and Structure
- Every document, PowerPoint, web page, etc. contains a clear title.
- Utilize heading, bullet points, lists, and paragraphs to maintain structure throughout the email, document, or web page.
- Maintain a logical and meaningful order of the content by keeping the layout simple. Use left-aligned texts and paragraphs.
- Resources:
Meaningful Hyperlinks
- When linking to a webpage, document, video, or other content, always include a specific destination, rather than “click here.” For example: To report an accessibility barrier, please submit a report via the Campus Reporting Form.
- Resources:
Videos and Images
- Every pre-recorded video or audio content, no matter where located, should have captions. A transcript should also accompany a video or audio content.
- Provide alternate text – a brief description of the image – of non-text content, such as images or charts.
- Refrain from using emails composed entirely of images.
- Resources:
Font and Color
- All font in communications, emails, newsletters, etc. should be at least 12-point and in a Sans Serif Font (e.g., Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Tahoma, Verdana).
- Utilize dark colors on light backgrounds, or light colors on dark backgrounds.
- Do not use color alone to convey information. Utilize asterisks, highlight, or bold in addition to color.
- Ensure text is readable when magnified up to 200%.
- Text must be actual text, not images of text.
- Resources:
Write Simply
- Define acronyms and avoid jargon.
- Employ the following principles – from the National Archives Principles – in all types of writing:
- Write for your reader, not yourself.
- Use pronouns when you can.
- State your major point(s) first before going into details.
- Stick to your topic.
- Limit each paragraph to one idea and keep it short.
- Write in active voice. Use the passive voice only in rare cases.
- Use short sentences as much as possible.
- Use everyday words. If you must use technical terms, explain them on the first reference.
- Omit unneeded words.
- Keep the subject and verb close together.
- Use headings, lists, and tables to make reading easier.
- Proofread your work, and have a colleague proof it as well.
Resources at Tulane
- Tulane University Library Guide on Digital Accessibility
- Tulane AI Accessibility Agent
- Tulane Canvas Accessibility Tool Panorama
- Tulane Top Hat Accessibility Tool ACE
- Tulane University Communications Web Accessibility Requirements
- Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching
- Innovating Learning Center
Additional Resources
- WCAG In Plain English
- Four Main Components of Digital Accessibility
- American Association of People with Disabilities Statement on Digital Accessibility Compliance Deadline
- National Registrar Plain Writing Checklist
- Microsoft Outlook, One Note, PowerPoint, and Word Accessibility Tools
- Overview of Assistive Technology