Course Accessibility Guidelines
Goal of Checklist
The checklist is a helpful guide for faculty when attempting to identify common accessibility barriers in their courses. It will provide techniques and tips, on how to make the content more accessible, to a diverse audience.
- Rationale:
Using these techniques and tips facilitate compliance with Purdue University’s Electronic Information, Communication and Technology Accessibility Policy. They reduce course preparation time, should faculty receive notice, from the Disability Resource Center or student, regarding a documented disability. - Audience:
The primary audience is faculty, who may only have minimal access, to accessibility support resources. The document could also benefit instructional design and support staff.
Checklist of Barriers
This checklist identifies the most prominent accessibility barriers, along with methods, to ensure accessible content. The techniques and tips are recommended to faculty, as they begin to proactively address barrier removal, to course content and environmental platforms.
If assistance is needed, please contact either Purdue Online, Disability Resource Center, Instructional Design, or Information Technology at Purdue.
Note: A student enrolled in any course, providing notice from the Disability Resource Center must receive the specified accommodations, regardless of whether the technique is listed in this checklist.
List of Barriers and Recommended Solutions
Accessibility Statement
Mandatory: All course syllabi are REQUIRED to include the vetted DRC Statement on Accessibility and Accommodations. You will find the DRC Syllabus Statement at: https://www.purdue.edu/drc/faculty/syllabus-statement.php
Benefits: All students become aware of the Office for Disability Services and the process for requesting accommodations.
Audio/Video from Purdue
- Audio files should be transcribed.
- Videos should be transcribed and captioned.
- Visual demonstrations need a text or audio description.
- Make sure media files don’t play automatically when a user enters the site.
Benefits: Captions also benefit non-native speakers or students experiencing audio glitches.
Audio/Video from Outside Purdue
Transcripts or captioned videos must be provided to students requiring an accommodation. However, the distribution of the content may be restricted because of copyright.
Visit our Web and Content Accessibility page for captioning information.
Color Contrast for Legibility
Ensure good color contrast for text/graphics/charts and backgrounds. Content should be legible in black and white. You will find helpful information, on Color Contrast, at https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref/?showtechniques=141&hidesidebar=true#visual-audio-contrast-without-color
Benefits: This fix improves legibility for all students.
Document Types
The following formats are recommended and are supported through Purdue’s Assistive Technology Center.
- Web files (e.g. ANGEL HTML Editor, Sites @ Purdue, other HTML documents) can be the most accessible file type.
- Word and PowerPoint files can be made accessible as well.
- If you create a PDF, provide the same information in some other accessible format unless verified by screen reader.
- Tools which allow you to insert Flash content typically result in inaccessible content.
Benefits: PDF and Flash are not easily readable on mobile devices, so avoiding them will enhance mobile usability.
External Documents
The content of any non-Purdue resource such as a Web site, PDF article from a journal, slides from external sources or other non-Purdue informational resources must be provided in an accessible format to students requiring an accommodation. In some cases, it is permissible to copy and reformat content just for students with a documented need.
For additional information on addressing different scenarios see Purdue’s Assistive Technology Center or links elsewhere in this document.
Image ALT Text
- Use ALT text for all content images. ALT text should describe the meaning conveyed by the image in the context of the course material, and it should be up to 150 characters.
- Give the image file itself a descriptive file name.
- Include a descriptive reference to the image within the surrounding text.
- Use AI to to generate alt text using Microsoft Copilot with this example prompt.
Benefits: This allows any student unable to view the image to understand its content.
Image Long Description
- A complex image requires ALT text significantly longer than 150 characters.
- For complex images, consider including a description in the text or a link to the description to the text in another location.
Benefits: Not all sighted students process visual information in the same way. When this is addressed, students are given the opportunity, to choose, what technology is best to process the data.
Link Text
Avoid vague or repetitive link text such as “click here” or “read more”
Benefits: Improved link text is often more visible and increases student confidence in finding content.
Math Equations
Equations should be created with a technology such as LaTeX or an equation editor (e.g. MathType) which allows rapid conversion to MathML. To learn more about LaTeX, please view this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TairRxyy_Hs
Benefits: This will facilitate conversion of equations to MathML should an accommodation request be received.
Section Headings
- Documents with section headings should include semantically tagged headings
- Use descriptive heading text to enhance page navigation and readability
Benefits: Headings also enhance legibility and ability for all students to scan online content.
Table Captions and Column Headings
- Do not use tables for layout and design purposes. Restrict tables to presentation of data.
- Use the simplest table possible, preferably without merging cells. It is better to use several simple tables rather than a complex table with merged cells.
- Use table headers to identify row and columns.
- Use a caption to display the table title.
- Consider alternatives to tables such as lists for complex tables.
Benefits: Accessible table design includes additional information for all students to use.
Technologies
Use Purdue technology options (e.g. ANGEL, Sites at Purdue) for course work whenever possible.
Note: See Purdue’s Assistive Technology Center for information on specific Purdue tools.
Investigate the accessibility of all non-Purdue technologies or materials and make a decision about continued use based on your findings.
Benefits: There is more support for accessibility accommodations within Purdue supported tools and materials.