Accessibility
About Web Accessibility at UCCS
Web Accessibility is the practice of designing and building a website so all users, regardless of any disability or impairment, can easily access the content. Many users may not be able to see images, read certain colors of text, or even use a mouse a navigate a page.
Fortunately, the Web Services team has taken care of most of these issues for our users. However, as a content creator, you control your website's content. With that in mind, please keep these common accessibility best practices in mind.
Accessibility Office Hours
UCCS Web Services hosts Website Accessibility Office Hours every Wednesday and Thursday at 1 pm. To join the call, please use this meeting link.
Alt Text and Images
Alternative Text (Alt Text) is a short description you add to images for sight-impaired users who may be using a screen reader to read your content. Any time you upload an image to your website, you will be required to add an Alt Text description.
Best Practices:
- Alt Text should be kept short yet descriptive
- Avoid using the words “Picture of” or “Image of” in your description. Most screen readers will already communicate this.
- Alt Text is not needed for purely decorative images that are not meant to convey content or any specific meaning. In this case, use empty quotes “ ”.
- If a longer description is needed, consider including the information in a paragraph near the image or a link to a longer description of the content.
Videos
Videos are a great way to relay content to your users. However, at times, they can cause accessibility problems for our end users.
Follow these guidelines to ensure all users may access your video and multimedia content.
- Use captions in your video that capture all of the scripted content. Captions should also include background noises, people speaking off-camera, and be in sync with the audio
- Consider including a transcript that is linked or posted near the video.
- If content is heavy on visual information, make sure to include an audio description that is linked or posted near the video.
GIFs
While animated gifs are popular on the internet, they can cause problems for users who might be prone to photosensitive epilepsy and seizures.
It is best practice to avoid uploading content that flashes, flickers, or rapidly changes color.
Web Accessibility standards state:
- Content should not flash more than 3 times a second
- Stay away from rapid color changes and red flashes in particular
Accessibility Tutorials
Resolving Accessibility Errors with Monsido
Learn how to work with Monsido to resolve accessibility errors on your site
Web Feedback Form
For questions or feedback regarding website accessibility or to notify the University regarding online information or functionality that is currently inaccessible, please fill out and submit the form below. Thank you! (Needs new form, the form did not make it over)