Accessibility Guides

  • Jump to Digital Accessibility Checklist
  • Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
  • UW Digital Accessibility Hub
  • Email Accessibility
  • Document Accessibility
  • Microsoft Excel Tips (PDF)
  • Social Media Tips (PDF)
  • Data Visualizations, Charts, and Graphs

Accessibility Checking Tools

  • Check Color Contrast
  • Compliant Color Combinations
  • Hemingway Free Online Proofreader

Plain Language Resources

  • UW Plain Language Courses
  • Plain Language Guides
  • Simple words and phrases

Digital Accessibility Checklist

1. Use plain language

  • Put key information up front and keep things short.
  • Support skimming with headings, bullet points, and content summaries.
  • Write in active voice (i.e., subject of the sentence performs the action).

Example:

  • Original: 
    • All candidates must complete the application in full, and the application must be received by our office no later than the date of August 1st.
  • Plain language: 
    • Submit your completed application before August 1st.

See more examples from the University of Michigan.

2. Use contrasting colors

  • Make sure text and background colors are starkly different.
  • Use a solid-color background; images behind text are distracting and make the text more difficult to read. 

3. Name links appropriately

  • Write unique, meaningful text that describes the action or destination of the link.

Examples:

  • “Submit application” is better than “Click here to submit”
  • "Read more about IT help" is better than "Find information about IT help here"

4. Use large text and high-quality images

  • Remember that many people use mobile devices with small screens and use zoom-in features.
  • Use text at least 12pt in size.
  • Low-quality images and images of text often become fuzzy or pixelated and difficult to read.

5. Add alt text to images

  • Use alt text to briefly (150 characters) describe the image to people who use screen readers.

6. Use Microsoft’s Accessibility Checker

  • This built-in tool found under the Review tab gives details on potential issues and suggestions to correct them.

7. Use Acrobat’s Create PDF tool

  • If the document will be converted to a PDF, start by making sure it’s fully accessible.
  • If Adobe Acrobat Pro is installed, use the Acrobat Tab > Create PDF tool.
  • Always avoid using “Print to PDF.” It typically doesn't format things correctly and makes documents inaccessible.