Format Guidelines for Accessibility and Privacy

Please submit workflow documentation using the following guidelines to ensure accessibility and currency of information.

File Format

Any file format except for PDF is acceptable.

Images/Non-Text Content

• Avoid using screenshots as interfaces in Alma are frequently updated.

• If using images or graphs, provide a text alternative

  • For all non-decorative images, provide alternative text that conveys the same information as the images. Alternative text should be succinct, but complete and take into account the context of the image.

    • Alternative text is hidden from most visual users

    • Interested in more information? Reach out or read WebAim’s overview of alt text.

  • If you use a chart or a complex table, consider adding a caption that describes the contents of the chart, which would be available for visual users and those using assistive technologies

  • When an image is purely decoration and provides no information, ensure that the alt text is blank

  • If you have other types of visual or audio media and aren’t sure how to represent it in a text format, please reach out!

Headings and Lists

Users accessing a site using assistive technology rely on the page structure to navigate, so using headings and lists, can help them (and other users) navigate and comprehend the site more easily.

When using headings, avoid using bold and font sizes, instead use the built-in heading options available, making sure to select the appropriate heading level to structure the content. Similarly, when making a list try to use the built-in list options, rather than using asterisks or other quasi-bullet points.

Descriptive Links

When creating a link, try to encapsulate where the user will land when they click on the link in the text used, rather than using something like “click here” or just a URL. Screen readers can access a link list for any page, but users only see the hyperlinked text (this text, but not this text). Descriptive link text helps screen reader users navigate web pages more easily.

Do Not Rely on Color Alone

When using color to convey information, be sure that the information can be understood without the use of color. For example, a chart should provide labels in a way that the user will not have to identify which color is associated with each label, an alternative method should be used (for example, by labeling within the sections of the chart or by adding a number or letter to the chart sections and label).

When using color to emphasize parts of a text, consider an alternate way to convey that information, such as restructuring with headers, using bold or italics, or breaking up paragraphs to ensure the important sections stand out.

Privacy

This training hub will be open to the public, so please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Avoid using examples with identifying information (e.g. real patron names).

• Avoid sharing internal login/password information.

Questions?

Reach out to the Internal Training Team at SILS-TOC-STAFF-TRAINING-L@listserv.ucop.edu), on our #internal-training-questions Slack channel, or contact your local IT member: https://uc-sils.atlassian.net/l/c/1BNTk4gh