The weakest link Creating accessible Word documents

Digital accessibility Perceivable Operable Understandable Robust Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/

Perceivable

Operable

Understandable

Robust

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/

Why Word accessibility? Internal communications External communication – public, contractors, other stakeholders Build for reuse

Internal communications

External communication – public, contractors, other stakeholders

Build for reuse

Round Table Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities http://e-bility.com/roundtable/ Australia/ New Zealand Revised e-text guidelines due early 2009

Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities

http://e-bility.com/roundtable/

Australia/ New Zealand

Revised e-text guidelines due early 2009

Round Table e-text Equivalence to print Clear visual design Follow existing guidelines General principles and format-specific guidance

Equivalence to print

Clear visual design

Follow existing guidelines

General principles and format-specific guidance

Equivalence to print Linear access Ensure content can be accessed with a keyboard Don’t use text boxes Don’t “hide” information in headers or footers Avoid columns

Linear access

Ensure content can be accessed with a keyboard

Don’t use text boxes

Don’t “hide” information in headers or footers

Avoid columns

Equivalence to print Structure and Semantics Use styles to represent text structure Headings 1 to 6 Important for navigation and understanding

Structure and Semantics

Use styles to represent text structure

Headings 1 to 6

Important for navigation and understanding

Equivalence to print Text equivalents for visual elements Convey the same information as included in the graphic How would you read the image to someone over the phone? Include the text visually, not just as “alt”

Text equivalents for visual elements

Convey the same information as included in the graphic

How would you read the image to someone over the phone?

Include the text visually, not just as “alt”

Equivalence to print Accuracy Include all meaningful elements of print document Check spelling Where there are differences from the print, explain them.

Accuracy

Include all meaningful elements of print document

Check spelling

Where there are differences from the print, explain them.

Clear visual design simple and clear typeface adequately large default text size good spacing adequate colour contrast left-align avoid italics, underline and block capitals do not convey information solely through images or colours allow user to change defaults consistent appearance

simple and clear typeface

adequately large default text size

good spacing

adequate colour contrast

left-align

avoid italics, underline and block capitals

do not convey information solely through images or colours

allow user to change defaults

consistent appearance

Follow existing standards WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): http://www.w3.org/WAI/ Unicode: http://unicode.org/ Customise for an individual: adaptive technology limitations software availability varying levels of computer literacy reading preferences

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): http://www.w3.org/WAI/

Unicode: http://unicode.org/

Customise for an individual:

adaptive technology limitations

software availability

varying levels of computer literacy

reading preferences

Weakest link Everyone is an author Anyone could have an “access need” Need to build understanding and standardise good practice

Everyone is an author

Anyone could have an “access need”

Need to build understanding and standardise good practice

RNZFB Style Guide Commonly used terms Writing style Accessibility Planning for multiple formats Organisational templates (Branding)

Commonly used terms

Writing style

Accessibility

Planning for multiple formats

Organisational templates

(Branding)

RNZFB Style Guide Intranet resource Launched to staff Gathering feedback Developing training programme Linking to policy and procedures

Intranet resource

Launched to staff

Gathering feedback

Developing training programme

Linking to policy and procedures

Moira Clunie [email_address] Mike Lloyd [email_address]

Moira Clunie [email_address] Mike Lloyd [email_address]