Web Accessibility

• Images should not be used as buttons or links.
• Images should not contain text unless absolutely necessary.

Alt Attributes

Alt attributes provide a text alternative when images are not displayed.

• Alternative text (alt attributes) must be added to all images.
• Alt attributes must convey meaning rather than appearance.
• As with captions, student names should not be used unless featuring a student in a success story or news release. Otherwise, use a generic description in the caption or alt attribute, such as: "A freshman anthropology major studies in the department lounge.

• Animations must respect user preferences. Ensure animations can be paused and avoid auto-playing animations that last longer than 5 seconds.
• Do not use blinking text. Visitors cannot stop the text from blinking.

Links should be descriptive and clear. Avoid vague phrases like 'click here' or 'read more.' Ensure links make sense when read out of context by screen readers.

• Incorrect: To find out more information about our wellness programs, click here.
• Correct: Find more information about our wellness programs.

• Ensure text has a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text against its background. Use tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker to validate color contrast.
• The primary background color should be white. If a background color is used, ensure proper contrast.
• Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning (e.g., "click the red arrow").

For long documents, include a table of contents at the top and navigation links for easy access.

PDFs and other uploaded files must meet accessibility standards by April 24, 2026. Many existing files on Kent State sites are not compliant and will need to be reviewed, remediated or removed.

What you need to do now:

• Audit all PDFs and files currently on your site
• Convert files to web pages whenever possible (web pages are inherently more accessible)
• If a file must remain as a PDF, ensure it meets full accessibility standards before uploading
• Follow proper deletion procedures for files you no longer need

PowerPoint files are particularly problematic as they may not be fully readable by screen readers, and PDFs require specific software to open.

See full PDF and file management guidelines for step-by-step instructions on reviewing, remediating and managing your files.

Refer to Student Accessibility Services for additional guidelines on creating accessible content.

Design forms with accessibility in mind. Include clear instructions and maintain consistent placement of labels for form fields.

Web Form Policies

If the video host allows, enable closed captioning. Auto-generated captions (e.g., from YouTube) can assist but must be reviewed for accuracy. If closed captions are unavailable, transcribe the video and provide a link to the transcript. Videos are considered content and must be captioned for accessibility. For official content, use professional captioning services to ensure compliance.

Complete ADA Compliance Information

The above list is a condensed version of a larger set of accessibility requirements. For full details, refer to:

• DOJ Web Accessibility Rule Overview and Fact Sheet - Includes information on compliance deadlines and archive exceptions
• U.S. Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act Website
• Electronic & Information Technology Accessibility Standards
• Designing for People with Partial Sight and Color Deficiencies
• W3C’s Guide to Accessibility

Learn about the Siteimprove Accessibility Module