This document provides information and guidelines about web accessibility. It defines accessibility as making web content usable by people with disabilities, on different devices and technologies. Websites must comply with federal laws requiring accessibility. The APS Web Team provides help to ensure compliance. Inaccessible sites can exclude 20% of users, including those with disabilities, older/younger users, and those using older devices or technologies. Guidelines are provided for accessible text, images, files, tables and more.

1. Web Accessibility
APS Web Team: aps.edu/web-team/accessibility
January 2017

2. What is Accessibility?
• Website accessibility, a.k.a. Universal Design, aims to
make content available to as many users as possible,
including users with disabilities, older technology, slower
networks, and users of different age groups.
• This includes: simplifying content, maintaining structure
with headings and lists, adding alt text, using high
contrast colors, ensuring all content is readable and
coherent.

3. Why is accessibility important?
• Website Accessibility is federally required.
• APS must be in compliance with Section 508 of the
Workforce Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
• APS websites and content uploaded on the websites
(including documents) must be accessible.

4. Where do I get help?
• Nearly every institution has a web accessibility or
universal design expert.
• At APS, contact the Web Team for help at any time:
www.aps.edu/web-team/accessibility
• We have your back on this!

5. Who is affected?
Inaccessible web content affects 20% of our users:
• Older and younger generations
• Smaller screens
• Slow connections & computers
• Old technology
• Low literacy
• ESL
• Disabled

6. Assistive Technology
There are many accessible software & hardware
solutions for users:
• Screen readers
• Voice recognition software
• Captioning software
• Switches and pointer sticks
• Keyboard navigation
• Font magnification

7. Benefits of Accessibility
Everyone benefits when content is accessible:
• Federally required
• Socially responsible
• Increase web users
• Readable on variety of devices
• Search engine optimization (SEO)

8. Content Guidelines
• Use headings appropriately – do not skip heading levels
(users with screen readers use headings to navigate).
• Headings and labels are descriptive and unique.
• Bullet and numbered lists are used appropriately.
• Content is concise, and easy to read.
• Avoid jargon, acronyms unless audience is familiar.

9. Text
• Color is high contrast and is not only means used to
communicate information.
• Avoid all capitalized text.
• Standard, readable fonts are used.
• Use large font sizes.

10. Images & Alternative Text (alt text)
• All images need Alt Text, except for decorative images.
• Alt text provides context and meaning of image.
• Images of text should be avoided.

11. Media
• Audio files should have a text transcript.
• Video files should be closed captioned.
• Caption in YouTube, download the caption file (.srt) to
add to Facebook & Vimeo.

12. Links
• Link text should be meaningful. Avoid text like “click here” or
“read more”.
Example:
The Albuquerque Public Schools Foundation was established in
1995. Learn More...
The Albuquerque Public Schools Foundation was established in
1995.
• Meaningful links are scan-able and used for navigation.

13. Links continued
• Link text should be unique and descriptive.
• Links should open in same window.
• Identify file types: “file (pdf)”.
• Don’t use URL as link: “Google” is better than
“Google.com”.
• Use email address as link: “mary@aps.edu”.

14. Files
• Files should be accessible. Both Adobe Acrobat and
Microsoft Office have accessibility checkers.
• Accessible PDF’s have: headings, image alt text, tags,
recognizable text, established language.
• Accessible Word, PowerPoint, & Excel docs have:
headings, image alt text, high contrast colors, table
header rows, meaningful links.

15. Tables
Accessible tables have:
• Table Caption.
• Table Header Row.
• No empty or merged cells.
• Used only for data, not layout.

16. Thank you
• Thank you for helping us make APS websites and
documents compliant to federal accessibility standards.
• If you need help, please reach out to the Web Team:
www.aps.edu/web-team/get-help