The document provides an overview of WCAG 2.0 guidelines for writing accessible web content, emphasizing the role of authors in ensuring accessibility across various document formats like PDF and Word. It outlines specific criteria writers must meet regarding writing style, structure, and design elements to enhance readability and usability for individuals using assistive technologies. The importance of correctly using headings, link text, and colour contrast is highlighted as essential for compliance with accessibility standards.

1. WCAG 2.0 for writers A brief overview of accessible content WANAU Melbourne September 2009

2. Accessibility? What’s that?

3. … but that’s for blind people and we don’t have any here

4. I thought the web team did all that stuff

5. … and so it came to pass that their new accessible website was ruined by their web writers!

6. Potential impact of web writers Document file types Accessibility supported technologies Writing style Structure and formatting Design elements Link text Page titles

7. Document file types WCAG 2.0 is technology neutral PDF, Word, RTF, PowerPoint files heavily used online If used as the only format, they must: Be ‘accessibility supported’ Meet the WCAG 2.0 success criteria

8. ‘ Accessibility supported’ means a) Format can be made accessible, AND b) Content in the format can be accessed by: Assistive technologies Accessibility features of user agents (browsers and plug-ins) No one has yet done the work to test (a) What level of AT/UA support is needed for (b)?

9. Is PDF ‘accessibility supported’? Older versions of Acrobat not capable of making accessible PDF documents; newer versions better Only newer versions of screen readers can make use of this support Is PDF accessibility supported? No definitive answer yet Even if it is, PDFs must meet WCAG 2.0 requirements (so must Word, RTF, PowerPoint) if use as only format

10. Potential impact of web writers Document file types Writing style Readability, shortened forms, instructions, non-literal use of words, foreign language, pronunciation Structure and formatting Design elements Link text Page titles

11. Readability SC 3.1.5 (AAA) Content is written at lower secondary level or has supplementary content or an alternative Techniques for 3.1.5 Understanding 3.1.5

14. Shortened forms SC 3.1.4 (AAA) Abbreviations, acronyms or initialisms are expanded Techniques for 3.1.4 Understanding 3.1.4

19. Instructions SC 1.3.3 (A) Instructions for using/understanding content do not rely on shape, size, location, orientation or sound Techniques for 1.3.3 Understanding 1.3.3

21. Non-literal or specialised use of words SC 3.1.3 (AAA) Idioms, metaphors, jargon are explained Techniques for 3.1.3 Understanding 3.1.3

23. Foreign language SC 3.1.2 (AA) Foreign language terms are able to be understood by different UAs and ATs Techniques for 3.1.2 Understanding 3.1.2

24. Pronunciation SC 3.1.6 (AA) A pronunciation is provided for words where the meaning would otherwise be ambiguous Techniques for 3.1.6 Understanding 3.1.6

25. Potential impact of web writers Document file types Writing style Structure and formatting Headings, tables, lists, special text elements Design elements Link text Page titles

26. Headings (1 of 3) SC 2.4.10 (AAA) Headings are used to organise the content Techniques for 2.4.10 Understanding 2.4.10

27. SC 2.4.6 (AA) Headings are descriptive Techniques for 2.4.6 Understanding 2.4.6 Headings (2 of 3)

28. How descriptive is this heading? “ Important information” Your clues: On a page from the University of Canberra Page is in the “Students with disabilities” section It is the main heading on the page (H1)

30. Headings (3 of 3) SC 1.3.1 (A) Headings can be recognised as such by different UAs and ATs Techniques for 1.3.1 Understanding 1.3.1

33. Tables, lists, quotations, citations … SC 1.3.1 (A) Special elements marked up so they can be recognised by different UAs and ATs Techniques for 1.3.1 Understanding 1.3.1

35. Potential impact of web writers Document file types Writing style Structure and formatting Design elements Images, text as images, colour, contrast Link text Page titles

36. Images (1 of 2) SC 1.1.1 (A) Images have an equivalent text alternative Techniques for 1.1.1 Understanding 1.1.1

37. Equivalent text alternatives Role of the image Decorative or informative? Use in context of the page? Used as a link? (next topic) Techniques Blank text alternative Short text alternative Short and long text alternative

41. Images (2 of 2) SC 1.4.5 (AA) Text is not presented as an image (except in logos) Techniques for 1.4.5 Understanding 1.4.5

43. Colour SC 1.4.1 (A) Colour is not used on its own to show meaning Techniques for 1.4.1 Understanding 1.4.4

45. Contrast (1 of 2) SC 1.4.3 (AA) Text and background colours have a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 or 3:1 for large text ( also applies to images of text) Techniques for 1.4.3 Understanding 1.4.3

47. Contrast (2 of 2) SC 1.4.6 (AAA) Text and background colours have a contrast ratio of 7:1 (also applies to images of text) Techniques for 1.4.6 Understanding 1.4.6

48. Potential impact of web writers Document file types Writing style Structure and formatting Design elements Link text Page titles

49. Link text (1 of 2) SC 2.4.4 (A) Link purpose can be understood from the link and context Techniques for 2.4.4 Understanding 2.4.4

53. Link text (2 of 2) SC 2.4.9 (AAA) Link purpose can be understood from the link text alone Techniques for 2.4.9 Understanding 2.4.9

55. Potential impact of web writers Document file types Writing style Structure and formatting Design elements Link text Page titles

56. Page titles SC 2.4.2 (A) Page title describes the content or purpose Techniques for 2.4.2 Understanding 2.4.2

58. Some final thoughts on WCAG 2.0 Some techniques better than others Need to use good judgement Some guidelines lower the standards Readability (was level A, now level AAA) Clear link text (was level A, now level AAA) Headings (was level AA, now level AAA) Note that AAA is now ‘optional’!