Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Regulations Spring 2024 Update

Headings

• Headings help in organizing a web page.
• When creating headings in LibGuides make sure to use the actual heading option and don't just make them visually look different.

Alt-Text for Images (Alternative text)

• Making images and graphics "visible" to all users is one of the first principles of accessibility. 
• The way you make your image visible to everyone is by adding "alternative text" or "alt-text".
• Adding alt-text to your images is an accessibility best practice.
• Adding alternative text ("alt text") to an image, will make images and graphics "visible".
• For people using screen readers or browsing speech-enabled websites alt-text can be read aloud or rendered as Braille.
• Alt-text gives the speech input software users the ability to put focus onto a button or linked image with a single voice command. 
• Alt-text allows mobile users to turn images off to help with download speeds or limit data-roaming charges.
• In LibGuides there are several ways to add alt-text to images.
• You can add "default" alt-text to an image by using the "Image Manager" to upload the image.
  • Each time you reuse an image its default alt-text will be attached.
  • This greatly increases the odds alt-text won't be overlooked (especially for images in your shared library.)
• You can also add /change alt-text when you add an image in a Rich Text/HTML.

How to add default alt-text to an image via the Image Manager:

• Go to Content in top menu bar
• Click on Image Manager in drop down menu 

• In the Image Manager window, upload a new image, then click on the thumbnail and/or click on the thumbnail of image already uploaded to add default alt-text. (Make sure to click on the actual image and not link icon.)

• In the Edit Image Properties window, enter your alt-text into the Alternative Text field.
• Click the Save button. 

How to add alt-text to an image you add via the Rich Text/HTML box:

• Select "Add Rich Text/ HTML" 

• Select "Image" icon

• In the "Image Properties" window type in the alt-text in the "Alternative Text" field.

Lists and Tables

• Do not create lists or tables manually, use the built in formatting.
• Do not use tables for layout.
• When creating tables make sure to add table row headings.

Check Color Contrast

• Check to see if the colors you've picked for your tabs and background are accessible.
• Use color contrast evaluation tools.
• WebAIM Color Contrast Analyzer - Check your text with this tool to see if it can be read based on the text and background color, ensuring your site meets and exceeds accessibility guidelines.
• WebAIM Link Contrast Generator - Check link color versus text and background color for accessibility.

Why worry about color contrast?

• Choosing accessible colors for your documents and site is important.
• Colors affect the readability of your document and site for all users, not just those with vision impairments.
• The only people for whom the color choices don’t matter are those using screen readers.

How to use color correctly:

• Don't use color as the only way to communicate information, always make sure meaning is conveyed in multiple ways.
• This is true for the main text of your document, links in blocks and images of text.
• In the case of links, use another identifier such as bold or underline to indicate a link verses using color alone.
• Run your site and documents through color contrast checkers to make sure the contrast ratio is good.
• To meet basic guidelines (Level AA) text must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 (or 3:1 for large text).

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