F&B IT Web Accessibility Principles

We are committed to complying with University website accessibility standards to ensure users with disabilities have equal access and equal opportunity to browse our websites. 

What is Website Accessibility or Accessible Content?

• Website accessibllity means the website and it's content is readable and usable by people with disabilities
• Accessible format – the structure and composition of digital documents and applications that are readable and usable by people with disabilities, using assistive technologies, and/or special configurations for user agents. These may include, but are not limited to: keyboard user access, large print; recorded audio and DAISY format; HTML, MathML and other digital formats; video captioning; and Braille. 

POUR Principles for Website Accessibility 

The industry standard guidelines for web content accessibility are organized around four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (or POUR). Ask yourself these questions when evelauting your content for accessibility. 

• Perceivable- Is there anything on our website(s) that a blind, deaf, low vision, or color blind user would not be able to perceive?
• Operable- Can all functions of our website be performed with a keyboard? Can users control interactive elements of our website? Does our website make completing tasks easy?
• Understandable- Is all of the text on our website clearly written? Are all of the interactions easy to understand?
• Robust- Does our website only support the newest, latest, greatest browsers or operating systems? Is our website developed with best practices?

Unit Contributors and Web Team Responsibilities

• Take Ownership and Increase Teamwork and Cooperation 
  • Responsibility for website accessibility is a collaborative effort between each Unit and F&B Web Team.
  • Web contributors are responsible for ensuring all content/files are accessible
  • Web Team will ensure the templates are accessible 
• Commit to an Iterative Approach to Remediating Existing Content.
  • Triage approach for Accessifying Websites. The pattern for remediation: Audit, Select, Test, Fix (Rinse & Repeat).
  • The highest trafficked resources will be given the highest priority Triage Testing Tools
• Continually Take Stock and Improve
  • The Web Team will run periodic accessibility scans and work with units to determine priority pages or sections. 
• Choose the Most Accessible Format to Deliver Content 
  • All effort should be made to not rely on PDFs to serve content. 
• Be Responsive Where We Haven't Been Proactive
  • Accommodation requests must be made a HIGH priority

Accesibility Tips 

When creating or editing your website, keep the following in mind:

Avoid or minimize the use of PDF files as a sole source of online information

Whenever possible, choose an alternate format for your content:

1. Standard webpage HTML (preferred)
2. Microsoft Office Document made accessible
3. Accessible Microsoft Office Document with an inaccessible PDF
4. Remediated and Accessible PDF

Make sure all documents Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) are accessible

• More information is available from the Accessibility Group about creating accessible documents.

Use proper formatting for tables

• Tables should only be used for tabular information such as information displayed in a spreadsheet. Avoid using tables for layout.
• Tables should identify row and column headers using the Table Properties menu. 
• Use a caption element to provide a descriptive title for the table.
• More information about formatting tables is available in our User Guide.