Web accessibility

[wicked]

We’re looking at a major project in the coming weeks at “remediating” content with newer standards being implemented re: ADA compliance/Section 508. I’m watching YouTube videos and I’m reading up on this stuff, and I’m just overwhelmed. I know enough to sound slightly smart when I’m really not. Has anyone gone through a similar experience? We’re subject to stricter guidelines than most because our organization receives federal funds.

 

[MisterCreosote]

PM me if you want more details, but I’d only advise that you be aware of the pitfalls with most built-in accessibility checkers. For example, in Acrobat, neither the “autotag” nor the “reading order” tools actually fix the reading order. The only way to do it is through the tag tree. (And, yes, the “reading order” as displayed by the “reading order tool” is not the actual reading order.)

If the source document is in Word, it has to be exported to pdf in a very specific way to maintain the document structure (don’t print or export to pdf. A simple “Save as…” and clicking the box pertaining to document structure will suffice).

There are a few good free online color-contrast checkers for graphic elements. If you have infographics, remember to use the entire text of the graphic as alternate text, not just a summation.

Make sure any tables have coded header rows AND header columns.

There’s a ton of other stuff that’s very document/page-specific, so reach out if you have questions. Good luck!

 

[wicked]

Thanks. Your inbox may be getting some pings. I’m swimming upstream with Acrobat Pro, and it’s good to know that the reading order function (I’m already stumped by it) may not fix anything. Long term we’re going to have to train a LOT of people that the way they’ve been doing things is wrong.