North Dakota State University

Website accessibility

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Some individuals may require auxiliary aids, adaptive equipment or specialized software to navigate through or access information on a website. Relatively simple website design features can facilitate access by these users as well as benefit other users as well.

Federal and state law and university policy require that ASU's programs and services be available to persons with disabilities. Websites that provide information about ASU, that provide information for employees, or that are related in any way to instruction of students must be accessible. For more information, see the Office of General Counsel's FAQs on Website Accessibility.

Each person and unit that posts a university or instructional website is responsible for ensuring that it is designed to be accessible as required by university policy.

Making Web Sites Accessible

Most of these are fairly quick and easy steps you can take to increase the accessibility of your web site. Keep in mind that these are just a sample of accessibility recommendations. The resources below offer much more extensive information.

1. Provide descriptive alt attribute text on non-decorative images. Add descriptive title attribute text on links when further description or explanation is needed.
2. Put all style information in the CSS file. Separating the presentation from the content of a page allows the greatest variety of devices to access and sensibly render the content. (This goes for JavaScript files, as well.)
3. Use semantic markup. For example:
   • Order your headers correctly (don't skip from h1 to h3).
   • Use <p></p> on paragraphs and only on paragraphs (not for spacing—that's what your CSS file is for).
   • Restrict the use of tables to tabular material. If you must use tables for layout, ensure that the text makes sense when read linearly.
   • Put navigation menus (and other catalogues of items) in lists. Then style the lists in the CSS file (see Max Design's Listmatic and Listutorial for a taste of what is possible.)
   • Bold face and italics are stylistic effects; indicate them in the CSS file, not on the page. When text is meant to be emphasized, use <em> and <strong>.
4. Provide an alternate, accessible page when using scripts, frames or dynamic content that may make the content inaccessible.
5. Add a "skip navigation" link at the top of the HTML page. If you don't like the look, hide the link with a text-indent:-5000px style rule in the CSS file.
6. Make sure your design allows people to resize text.
7. Use an image replacement technique for text graphics. A list of techniques can be found on Dave Shea's Mezzoblue.
8. Use color to enhance communication, not diminish it. For example, black-on-white text is easier to read than gray-on-white. Links of noticeably different color are more easily spotted—but don't rely on color, underline links as well.
9. Provide a site map.
10. Validate your code using one of the many free accessibility tools: Functional Accessibility Evaluator,  Wave, Cynthia, and W3C's Markup Validation Service.
11. Declare your DOCTYPE. It may look like gibberish, but it allows your code to validate and tells browsers how to render your code.

For more information see these resources:

• Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) - Getting Started: Making a Web Site Accessible
• Introduction to Web Accessibility - WAI
• WC3 - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0
• WebAIM - Web Accessibility in Mind

Accessibility Resources

Accessibility checkers

• Functional Accessibility Evaluator from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• WAVE - Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool from WebAIM
• HTML Validator (W3C)
• CSS Validator (W3C)
• Vischeck: Vischeck is a way of showing you what things look like to someone who is color blind

Software and CMS specific guidelines

• Adobe (Acrobat, InDesign, and Flash)
• Drupal's Accessibility Statement
• Accessbility with Drupal
• Microsoft

Training resources

• Adobe Acrobat Training Resources
• Lynda.com - Web Accessibility Principles
• WebAIM Accessiility Training

ASU Resources

ACD 405: Individuals with Disabilities Policy
ASU's policy on equal opportunities, access, and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities

ASU Libraries Disability Services
Arizona State University Libraries offers a variety of services and adaptive technology for students with either temporary or permanent disabilities to ensure that all library users have access to the library’s resources and facilities.

ASU Disability Resources for Students
The DRS facilitate a comprehensive range of academic support services and accommodations for qualified students with disabilities for ASU students on all campuses.