Course Materials


Quick Checklist for Course Accessibility

Audio (Podcasts)/Video
  • Ensure the use of keyboard accessible controls or provide alternate text-based resources. For more information on keyboard accessibility visit the WebAIM’s keyboard information page.
  • Include synchronized closed-captions for video.
  • Provide full descriptive narratives for video with no audio track.
  • Include audio descriptions (also known as video descriptions or audio captioning). Provide narrative vocal description of important aspects of the video during breaks between dialogue.
  • Provide text transcripts for audio
Animations/Simulations
  • Ensure that content is accessible with the keyboard or that there is an alternate resource that covers the same content.( Note: Flash-based is often not accessible.)
Microsoft Office, PDF, and Course Web Pages
  • Minimize use of color. Important information should not be emphasized with color alone. For example, “Assignments in green are due on Wednesday, and assignments in red are due on Friday” should not be the sole method of conveying information.
  • Ensure that images have descriptive alternative text tags. Alternate Text Information
  • Use Styles for consistency. For example, identify headings and subheadings in document(s).
  • Save files as .rtf, .doc, or .pdf so they are easily downloadable.For more information on making a Word file accessible, visit Webaim’s Word Information
  • Use templates in Powerpoint. Avoid creating text boxes. For more information on making a Powerpoint accessible visit Webaim’s Powerpoint Information
  • Use Tab Key rather than Space Bar when indenting or spacing.
  • Use simple tables. For example, do not merge cells, split cells, or embed tables within table/cells.
  • Use text to provide a clear description of a website link rather than just the URL. For example, when creating a hyperlink, use text to display the name of the website rather than “Click here”.
  • Check for PDF accessibility quickly by highlighting text. If the entire page highlights, it is not accessible. For more information on making a PDF accessible visit Webaim’s PDF Information
  • Check that links to external online resources are accessible, including any Web 2.0 tools being used. For more information on using accessible Web 2.0 Tools visit Web 2 Access