10 Best Practices

 

  1. Start today!
    Don’t add new content with significant accessibility barriers.
     
  2. Remove unused content.
    Run TidyUP to see which pages and files are published. Archive unused materials in myCSUNbox or a Canvas Blueprint course, not your current semester's course.
     
  3. Progress over perfection.
    For existing content, use the many tips around our website to make meaningful improvement.  Set a goal and take steps towards better accessibility.
     
  4. Ask.
    CSUN isn’t the only institution required to make materials accessible.  If the content came from another organization, and your Course Accessibility Report has identified accessibility barriers, ask them for a more accessible copy.  Textbook publishers, California state agencies, even journals may already have a better version, or may create one upon request.
    The reference librarians and the Course Reserves team at the University Library may also be able to help find a more accessible version.
     
  5. Save; don’t Print.
    When converting a document or presentation to PDF, do not use Print.  Printing to PDF will strip out all of your accessible structure (metadata).  Either: Save as a PDF, Or, if available, use the Create Adobe PDF button.
     
  6. Select and search.
    If you can highlight or select your text, and if you can search within your text, your readers will have at least basic access to your content.
     
  7. Use our 8-Point check.
     
  8. Provide alternatives.
    Videos must have captions. Images must have a concise text description ("alt text"). If the image conveys no information, mark it as decorative instead. 
    For color-coded information, if the meaning isn’t explicit in the text, add icons, patterns to graphs, variations to the font (such as making links both underlined and a different color than the surrounding text), or some other design effect so that students who perceive color differently also have access to the information.
     
  9. Use the software: to check for accessibility.
    Microsoft Office has built-in accessibility checkers.  Adobe Acrobat Pro has a whole suite of accessibility tools. 
     
  10. Use the software: to structure the document or page.
    Structural formatting such as headings, lists, bold/italic, etc., can convey information even to readers who can’t (or can’t easily) see the document.  But to accomplish this, use the software tools to apply the formatting. 
  • In Microsoft Word, use the Styles panel.  Just changing the font size, or even using the B or I buttons, won’t change the structure of the document and thus won’t be communicated to all readers.
  • In Canvas, use the dropdown menu with the different options for headings.
  • In Microsoft PowerPoint, start with the master slide.
  • Many other content creation software applications offer similar tools.

Avoid text boxes.  Content within text boxes, and PowerPoint Notes, is not available to all readers.

The Universal Design Center offers training on all of these topics and more!