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Accessiblity
Supporting Documentation
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Summary
General Course Content Principles for MyUni
PDF documentsReturn to the main Accessibility page
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Summary
1. Provide text/audio alternatives to visual and auditory content.
When you are including a non-text element within a web page ensure that there is appropriate text alternatives. Where possible, use explanatory text before the embedded media to give guidance for students who may be using screen readers.
The <alt> attribute for an image tag provides a way for a text description to be related to a visual element on a web page. The text is displayed when you hold a mouse over the image and will be read by screen readers. ALT tags should be used for all images, audio and video. Make sure the text description you give in the ALT tag is meaningful.
Captioning and text transcripts should also be considered for all multimedia content (audio and video).
2. Identify the natural language
Identify the main language of the page using the language attribute eg. <html lang="en"> for a document in English. Mark any language changes within the page to help screen readers adapt to language changes as they occur.
3. Make sure your site is clear and succinct
Avoid excessive hotlinks, complicated design and lots of pages without relevant content. Include clear text content at the top of each page that will tell the reader about the purpose of the page.
Avoid using frames for the construction of pages.
Use colour wisely. Make sure there is good contrast between text and background colours and choose colour schemes carefully. Do not use colour alone to convey meaning about content.
When using hypertext links (hotlinks) make sure the text is meaningful. Avoid using "Click here" or "link to file".
4. Display
Avoid use of anything that will cause the screen to flicker or change. This includes animations, blinking and scrolling text and pages that automatically refresh.
Avoid pop-up windows that appear automatically. Inform the user if clicking on a link is going to bring up a new window or pop up.
5. Tables
Do not use tables unless the information you need to convey absolutely requires tables.
If you do use tables make sure row and column headers are identified.
Use the <summary> attribute to state the purpose of the data in the table.
6. Scripts, applets and plugins
Make sure that your page works if javascript, java, flash or any other programmatic objects are turned off or not supported. If you cannot provide an accessible page by doing this, link to an alternative text page that has equivalent information. This link must be accessible and should be located at the top of a page so it can be found quickly.
7. Markup and style sheets
Stick to standard HTML and avoid any use of proprietary browser-specific HTML. Use style sheets where possible to control layout of your page(s). If you use style sheets make sure your page can also be read without them.
8. Forms
Make sure that every field and option on a form is on a different line. Make the form available in an alternative format (eg. Word document) and always include contact details where help can be sought.
9. Add Metadata to pages
Add metadata to your web pages to describe the content and indicate ownership and other details. Metadata is added to the HEAD section of your page. Search engines can use this information to index your site.
10. Check and test
There are many guidelines, resources and tools available that web authors can use to check their content. These are listed in the Further Information & Tools section.
General Course Content Principles for MyUni
1. A copy of essential course material should be made available to students in electronic format.
Essential course material is defined in section 4.2 of the Student Ancillary Fees and Charges Policy to be:
- course outlines, reading lists, tutorial or seminar topics and problems;
- requirements for assessment and guidelines for the presentation of work; and
- manuals and workbooks for use in clinics, laboratories, workshops or practicals.
When making this content available to students in electronic format, it is best to:
- Provide it in a text manipulable format;
- Provide multiple formats for students to download (eg. Word, HTML or PDF);
- Use a clear well sized font such as Arial with a minimum of 10pt;
- Keep the use of tables, graphs and images to a minimum;
- Use colour and background wisely when formatting documents.
2. Make use of announcements and areas at the top of course sections that can be used to provide clear text descriptions about the type of content that will be found in this section/page.
3. When creating links to files make sure that the name of the link to the file is intuitive. Make sure that explanatory text is also provided that instructs students about the type of file, the content and includes links to plugins and software to open and view the file once downloaded.
4. Check the size of files that you are uploading. If the size exceeds 1 megabyte consider options such as:
- breaking up the document into smaller files
- optimising graphics in Powerpoint files
- removing transitions and graphics in Powerpoint files
- converting the document to PDF
- providing a text-only alternative (html, rtf, word) for use by students at home
- use an alternative format (eg. CD) to distribute large files to students
5. Avoid using images for key course material (eg equations) that may not be accessible to students with a screen reader.
6. Make sure you use the announcements page to provide regular updates to students on the location and format of new content.
7. When uploading documents in PDF format, make sure that you follow the guidelines for accessibility with PDF. In particular, make sure that the document is text manipulable and not converted to an image.
8. When scanning hardcopy documents to provide online, double-check the size of the final electronic copy and where possible scan the document in a text manipulable format, not as an image. If this is not possible provide a text-only alternative that students can access. The Disability Liaison Officer can provide advice.
Converting your documents to PDF format
using Adobe Acrobat
What is PDF format? What is Adobe Acrobat?
- PDF stands for Portable Document Format.
- Adobe Acrobat consists of various software which allows for the conversion, electronic distribution of documents and reading/accessing of these documents worldwide.
- Adobe PDF is a universal file format that preserves the exact look and feel of any source document, including all the fonts, formatting, colours, and graphics, regardless of the application and platform used to create it.
(How to Create Accessible Adobe PDF Files, 2001 Adobe Systems Incorporated, California, USA, page 1.)
What documents can be converted into PDF format?
- Any electronic document regardless of the application eg Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Word. Most PDF conversion presently being undertaken by MyUni Helpdesk is with Microsoft Powerpoint documents created by Lecturers (as at May 2003)
- Web pages
- Scanned pages
- Documents can include images, columns and tables, as well as text
Why convert to PDF format?
- PDF files can be opened across a broad range of hardware and software
- The exact look and feel of the source document is preserved
- Adobe supports the accessibility of PDF files to users with disabilities such as blindness, low vision or motion impairment including alternate text descriptions for images, enhanced keyboard shortcuts, searchable/accessible text, high-contrast viewing and speech-synthesis screen readers. See http://access.adobe.com a website which provides more information and free online services
- Forms with electronic form fields can be created
- Language translation
- Adobe PDF is a standard on the World Wide Web and is also used to distribute electronic documents over corporate networks, via e-mail, and on CD-ROM
(How to Create Accessible Adobe PDF Files, 2001 Adobe Systems Incorporated, California, USA, page 1.) - Adobe PDF supports electronic forms, digital signatures, password security and electronic mark-ups which allows for fully interactive digital processes of business
As an Instructor, what do I need to do to get my documents converted to PDF format?
- You can create or convert your own PDF files if you have the required Adobe Acrobat software and expertise.
- However MyUni Helpdesk will convert your existing files to PDF format for you. Turnaround time is normally 24-48 hours but may be longer at certain times of the year. You should contact the Helpdesk on 33335 if you need to ascertain the conversion time more accurately.
- The preferred method of sending your existing files to MyUni Helpdesk is as follows:
Via MyUni
Access your MyUni course
Click on <Control Panel>
Click on <Course Materials>
Click on <Course Documents>
Upload your file/s within Course Documents
Send MyUni Helpdesk an email notifying them that you have uploaded a file for conversion to PDF format at myuni.help@adelaide.edu.au
When you file has been converted into PDF format the MyUni Helpdesk will upload it within Course Documents and notify you by emailVia Email as an attachment
This method is not advised unless the file size is quite small (less than 2Mb)
How can I assist in the creation or optimisation of Accessible PDF files for students with Disabilities?
The experienced PDF user
Existing Adobe PDF files can be optimised for accessibility. And paper-based documents can also be converted to accessible Adobe PDF files.Contact MyUni Helpdesk who will organise for this to be done for you.
If you have Windows Office 2000 applications and Adobe Acrobat software installed on your computer you can create tagged Adobe PDF files that preserve hyperlinks, styles, bookmarks and the structure of tables. Go to <link to manual> for more information.
Unstructured PDF files can be converted to a tagged file.
The novice
Some useful tips which will assist in the successful conversion and accessibility of your documents into PDF format:
- When creating your original document in (say) Microsoft Word 2000 use styles to format text such as titles, headings, and paragraphs. The styles provide structure information when MyUni Helpdesk converts your file to a tagged Adobe PDF file which assists in accessibility for readers. This also allows selected styles to be converted to bookmarks.
- When you create your original document which includes images, the text description may be lost when it is converted into PDF format. In order to overcome this, add alternate text descriptions. In Microsoft Word you can use the WordArt object to add text to a shape, or specify alternate text for images on a Web page.
- Ensure that text and images do not overlap and are visually separate on each page of your original document to prevent text becoming unreadable in PDF format.
- If using tables in your Word document, use the Insert Table command or Draw Table to create tables – do not use tabs to simulate a table.
What software is required?
All University of Adelaide staff computers and student computer pools have Adobe Acrobat Reader (a plug-in) installed.
For information on other Adobe Acrobat software including Capture software and screen readers, contact the MyUni Helpdesk.
