Transcript: Accessibility Checkers

Overview: Accessibility Checkers

Most software programs, including Canvas, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Acrobat, and Word, have a built-in tool--commonly called an Accessibility Checker--that  identifies common accessibility issues. Accessibility Series In Canvas, the Accessibility Checker  flags any issues pertaining to  headings,  links,  small and large text contrast ratios, image alt text, lists, and tables.  For more information about Canvas’s Accessibility Checker, visit  community.canvaslms.com. Microsoft products have an Accessibility Checker that divides its results into errors, warnings, and tips. Errors flag content that makes the document difficult or impossible to read and understand for people with disabilities. Warnings flag content that  makes the document difficult to understand for people with disabilities  in most (but not all) cases. Tips flag content that people with disabilities can understand but that could be presented in a different way to improve the user’s experience. For more information, visit   support.microsoft.com. Adobe  Acrobat’s  Accessibility  Checker  divides  its  results  into  seven  categories:  document, page  content,  forms,  alternate  text,  tables,  lists,  and  headings.  For  more  information,  visit adobe.com/accessibility.

Transcript: Alternative (Alt) Text for Images

Overview: Alternative (Alt) Text for Images

Alternative text, or Alt text,  is a short description of non-text content, such as images and gifs.  As a textual alternative for non-text content,  it  is displayed in place of the image in browsers if the image file is not loaded or when the user has chosen not to view images. It provides a semantic meaning and description to images which can be read by search engines. Most importantly, it  is read by screen readers in place of images  which allows  the content and function of the image to be accessible to those with visual or certain cognitive disabilities. Accessibility Series Creating alt text for non-text content is easy to do.  Most software applications, including Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and Canvas, have built in alt text tools. When adding alt text to your images,  be sure to consider the context and function of the image. Be succinct in your descriptions (ideally fewer than 120 characters). Do not be redundant. Do not restate the  file name. Be sure not to include phrases such as “image of...” or “graphic of...”--just state what is in the image.  Adding alt text to your inserted images  in online and digital content helps to ensure that your materials  are accessible to the blind and visually impaired. Be sure to incorporate alt text when creating your online content.

Video: COMING SOON

Transcript: COMING SOON

Overview: COMING SOON

Transcript: Headings in Documents

Overview: Headings in Documents

Transcript: Hyperlinks and URLs

Overview: Hyperlinks and URLs

When people read a printed document, they will need a full web address so that they can type the URL into their web browser’s address bar. Unfortunately, when these documents are distributed digitally, the URLs are typically long and not screen-reader friendly. If you need to use a full URL, make sure there are no spaces that would break the hyperlink for anyone that would want to click it. Unless the full URL is short, such as a homepage like http://www. collin.edu, you should avoid writing out the full URL.

Ideally, you should convert your URLs into hyperlinks, meaning that the selected text on the screen links to the URL. These hyperlinks usually appear blue and underlined on the screen. You want to make sure that your hyperlinks look like links, and nothing else looks like a link. There is no minimum character or word length to use for the text in the hyperlink. However, you want to make sure that the hyperlink covers enough space that anyone, regardless of motor skills, will be able to click it. A one-letter hyperlink may be insufficient for accessibility. There is no maximum character or word length to use for the text in your hyperlink. That said, if the hyperlink is an entire paragraph, those using a screenreader may decide to skip it. Similarly, they may also skip hyperlinks such as “Click here” or “See more” because they typically read links separately from the document, and phrases like these do not provide any context. Therefore, to help ensure accessibility for those with motor or visual impairments, it is best to use a short, meaningful phrase that provides context about what the link contains. For instance, if you are sharing a website article, you would use the title of the article for the hyperlink. This way, the reader knows what to expect to read or learn about if they click the hyperlink.

Video: COMING SOON

Transcript: COMING SOON

Overview: COMING SOON

Transcript: SCULPT for Accessibility

Overview: SCULPT for Accessibility

The acronym SCULPT stands for: Structure, Color and contrast, Use of images, Links, Plain English, and Table  structure. They are the six basic things to consider when making content accessible. Structure refers to headings and styles.  You will want to incorporate built-in headings and styles where applicable. Using these heading styles makes it easier for those with visual disabilities to navigate documents while using a screen reader. Colour and contrast refers to the contrast between text and background colors.  You will want to use a strong contrast so that those with visual disabilities can perceive the content. Use of images refers to using alternative (or alt) text on your images.  You will want to include alt text to describe each of your images. Using alt text allows those with visual disabilities and using a screen reader to read the content contained in the images. Links refers to the naming of hyperlinks. When those with visual disabilities are using a screen reader, they will pull up a menu with a list of all the document’s referenced hyperlinks.  You will want to provide a clear and accurate title for your hyperlinks so that they can tab through the separate menu and visit the websites after reading the main document’s content. Plain English refers to writing clearly and simply for the appropriate audience. By writing with the reader in mind, those using a translator or those with cognitive disabilities are more likely to understand the content. Table  structure  refers to using a simple table structure. Using a simple table structure will help ensure that screen readers can accurately read the information for those with visual disabilities. For more information, visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/sculpt.

Video: COMING SOON

Transcript: COMING SOON

Overview: COMING SOON

Transcript: Accessible Videos Overview

Overview: Accessible Videos

Accessible videos ensure that the content of your video is accessible to the visually and/or hearing impaired.  To make a video accessible, you might need captions, a video transcript, and/or audio descriptions. Accessibility Series Captions are the text version of a video’s audio content. Captions should be synchronized to the corresponding audio, and they should be equivalent to the words or information in the audio track. They can be either open or closed. Open captions are like the ones in this video: they are a permanent part of the video. Closed captions, on the other hand, can be turned on or off. Adding captions helps to ensure that your video is accessible to people who are deaf or hearing impaired. A video transcript is a separate document that contains the text version of the video’s audio. Having a video transcript helps to ensure that your video’s content is accessible to people who are deaf or hearing impaired. Audio descriptions describe a video’s visual elements. While they are not needed if there is no visual information--like a person talking--or for a live  event, they are required if the video is pre-rerecorded and there is important visual information to people who are blind and listening to the video. These audio descriptions can be incorporated into the primary video, meaning that a narrator verbalizes what is on the screen in between the speaker’s information. Alternatively, audio descriptions can be recorded as a secondary audio track meaning that there is a second audio recording with only a narrator describing everything that is on the screen without the speaker’s information. Audio descriptions help to ensure that your video is accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.

The following websites provide additional information on accessibility.

• Reasonable Accomodations - A Teacher Guide for Teaching Students with Disabilities
• Web Accessibility in Mind
• MORE RESOURCES COMING SOON