Accessibility workshop

Checklist for document accessibility

Below is a checklist ofsome key accessibility guidelines that are applicable to content in Word, PowerPoint and/or PDF documents. It is not a complete list.

Issue / Check
  1. Provide appropriate text alternatives for any non-text content such as graphics.

  1. Use a hierarchy of headings to divide content into meaningful sections.

  1. Write headings and labels that areconcise and descriptive of the content.

  1. Make sure content is concise, clear and easy to read, including the font.

  1. Provide appropriate document structure by using standard styles.For example, Heading 1 etcfor headingsand Bullets and Numbering commands for lists.

  1. Use tables for tabular data and not for layout.

  1. Ensure data tables maintain a regular structure and include a header row.

  1. Add captions and summaries to data tables where appropriate.

  1. Ensure the reading order is logical and intuitive.

  1. Avoid or define abbreviations and acronyms, jargon, idioms and special terms.

  1. Do not rely on shape, size, or visual location, sound or colour for instructions.

  1. Do not rely on colour alone to convey information or distinguish visual elements.

  1. Ensure text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.

  1. Ensure large text (over 18 point or 14 point bold) has a contrast ratio of at least 3:1.

  1. Include text as text unless a graphic is required for the visual presentation.

  1. Ensure links can be readily distinguished from the surrounding text.

  1. Ensure the purpose of each link can be understood from the link text.

  1. Avoid using the same text for links that go to different locations.

  1. Include the file type and size in the link text if it doesn’t link to a web page.
    For example: learning strategies (.pdf 355kB).

  1. Ensure labels for form and interactive controls are informative and avoid duplication.

  1. Provide a descriptive and informative document title.

  1. Provide bookmarks for long documents.

  1. Ensure PDF documents are tagged.

  1. Identify the language of the page or document.

Preparing content in Word for converting to web pages
(in addition to the above)
  1. Provide a descriptive text transcript of web-based audio.

  1. Provide synchronized captions for non-live, web-based video.

  1. Provide a descriptive text transcript or audio description audio track for non-live, web-based video.

  1. Provide audio descriptions for all video content that is conveyed visually and is not available in the default audio track.