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Accessibility

Our Commitment

The University of Utah is dedicated to creating an inclusive digital environment. We adhere to WCAG 2.1 standards to ensure our websites and web applications are accessible to all users, regardless of ability. By prioritizing accessibility, we enhance the user experience, improve search engine optimization, and fulfill our legal and ethical obligations. We strive to create websites and web applications that are not only usable but also enjoyable for everyone.

Tools for everyone

Our commitment to accessibility extends beyond compliance with standards; it's a fundamental principle that guides our approach to digital design and development

Best Practices

Color Guidelines:

To ensure optimal accessibility for all users, including those with visual impairments, the University adheres to the following color and contrast guidelines:

Avoid Color-Only Coding
Relying solely on color to convey information can exclude users with color blindness or visual impairments.
Alternative Text
Provide descriptive alternative text for images to make them accessible to screen readers and visually impaired users.
Clear Identifiers
Use clear visual cues, such as underlining or bold text, to distinguish links, form fields, and other interactive elements.
Focus States
Implement clear focus indicators to highlight the active element when navigating with a keyboard.

Contrast Ratios:

Sufficient Contrast: Ensure that text and images have adequate contrast against the background to enhance readability, especially for users with low vision.

Please use only the accessible color combinations provided below. These combinations have been rigorously tested to ensure optimal accessibility and user experience.

UTAH RED - #BE0000

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

WHITE - Aa - Pass
SALT FLAT GREY - Aa - Pass

BLACK - #000000

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

WHITE - Aa - Pass
GRANITE PEAK - Aa - Pass
WASATCH SUNRISE - Aa - Pass
MOUNTAIN GREEN - Aa - Pass
GREAT SALT LAKE - Aa - Pass
SALT FLAT GREY - Aa - Pass

WHITE - #FFFFFF

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

UTAH RED - Aa - Pass
BLACK - Aa - Pass
RED ROCKS - Aa - Pass
ZION CINDER CONE - Aa - Pass

GRANITE
PEAK - #708E99

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

BLACK - Aa - Pass

WASATCH
SUNRISE - #FFB81D

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

BLACK - Aa - Pass
RED ROCKS - Aa - Pass

RED
ROCKS - #890000

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

WHITE - Aa - Pass
WASATCH SUNRISE - Aa - Pass
MOUNTAIN GREEN - Aa - Pass
GREAT SALT LAKE - Aa - Pass
SALT FLAT GREY - Aa - Pass

MOUNTAIN
GREEN - #6CC24A

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

BLACK - Aa - Pass
RED ROCKS - Aa - Pass

GREAT
SALT LAKE - #3ABFC0

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

BLACK - Aa - Pass
RED ROCKS - Aa - Pass

SALT FLAT
GREY - #E2E6E6

ACCESSIBLE COMBINATIONS:

UTAH RED - Aa - Pass
BLACK - Aa - Pass
RED ROCKS - Aa - Pass

Text Guidelines:

Page Titles:

  • Unique and Descriptive: Each page should possess a distinct <title> tag that accurately reflects its content. This aids both users and search engines in comprehending the page's purpose.

Heading

  • Hierarchical Structure: Employ <h> tags to organize content hierarchically, commencing with <h1> for the primary heading and progressing to <h6> for the least significant headings.
  • Logical Nesting: Guarantee that headings are nested appropriately, with subordinate headings positioned within their superior counterparts.
  • Consistent Styling: Style headings to be visually distinguishable and adhere to the correct hierarchy, facilitating effortless scanning and comprehension
Image displaying headings in a logical order starting from H1 through H6

Multimedia Guidelines:

Images:

To ensure optimal accessibility for all users, including those with visual impairments, it's crucial to provide descriptive alternative text (alt text) for all images. Alt text serves as a textual representation of the image, allowing screen readers to convey its content to users who cannot see it.

Effective alt text should:

Be concise and specific
Clearly describe the image's content and purpose without redundancy.
Avoid repetition
Don't repeat information already present in the surrounding text.
Prioritize important details
Highlight the key elements of the image that contribute to understanding the content.
Be contextually relevant
Ensure the alt text aligns with the overall context of the page.

Audio & Videos:

To create a fully accessible website, it's essential to consider the needs of users with disabilities. When incorporating audio and video content, here are some crucial tips to ensure inclusivity.

Manual Start
Audio and video content should not auto-play upon page load. Users should have the option to initiate playback manually.
Pause and Stop Controls
Provide clear and easily accessible controls to pause or stop media playback at any point.
Volume Control
Include a volume control to allow users to adjust the audio level to their preference.
Synchronized Captions
Provide accurate and synchronized closed captions for all pre-recorded audio and video content.
Live Captioning
Consider providing live captioning for live audio or video streams to benefit deaf and hard-of-hearing users.

Forms:

To ensure optimal form accessibility, it's crucial to pay attention to the following key elements:

Clear and Concise Labeling:

  • Visible Labels: Each form field should have a clearly visible label that accurately describes its purpose.
  • Required Field Indicators: Required fields should be explicitly marked, using visual cues like asterisks (*) or bold text, in addition to textual instructions.
  • Avoid Color-Only Indicators: Relying solely on color to indicate required fields or error messages can exclude users with visual impairments.

Effective Error Handling:

    • Clear Error Messages: Provide specific and actionable error messages that guide users in correcting their input.
    • Visual Cues: Highlight error fields using visual cues like red borders or error icons.
    • Contextual Help: Offer additional guidance or tips to assist users in completing the form accurately.
Image showcasing an example of form fields.

Focus and Keyboard Operability:

To ensure optimal keyboard navigation for all users, including those who rely on assistive technologies, consider the following guidelines:

Visible Focus:

  • Clear Indication: The focused element should be visually distinct, such as a highlighted border or a different color.
  • Logical Order: The keyboard focus should follow a predictable sequence, typically left-to-right and top-to-bottom.

Comprehensive Keyboard Control:

  • Full Functionality: All interactive elements, including links, buttons, form fields, and media controls, should be accessible via keyboard.
  • Tab Order: The tab order should align with the visual layout of the page.
Image showcasing an example of form fields and focus elements


Navigation Guidelines:

A well-structured and consistent navigation system is crucial for creating accessible websites. By using clear and predictable navigation elements like main navigation, quick tabs, headers, and footers, users can easily orient themselves and locate the information they need. These landmarks provide a familiar framework, making it easier for users to navigate the site, especially those with disabilities or cognitive impairments.

Image displaying the university theme header and footer.
Image displaying the university theme quick tabs navigation component example.

Digital Document Guidelines (PDFs and More):

To ensure optimal accessibility, we recommend delivering content primarily through web pages. Websites offer inherent advantages over digital documents like PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, and digital flipbooks. They are more accessible and easier to adapt to meet accessibility standards.

If Digital Documents Are Necessary:

If circumstances necessitate the use of digital documents, such as PDFs, it is imperative to adhere to Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 standards. To achieve this, consider the following:

    • Color Palette: Employ a color palette that ensures sufficient contrast and readability.
    • Remediation Services: Utilize professional remediation services to add essential tags, alternative text, and other accessibility features to your documents.

Digital tools and Resources:

 

University of Utah Resources

Request Web Accessibility Training
Request Training
Social Media Accessibility Guidelines
See Guidelines
Center for Disability Access
Visit CDA Website

Checklists

Web Aim WCAG2 Checklist
See WCAG Checklist
How to meet WCAG
See Quick Reference

Automated Testing

Color Contrast Checkers

Web Aim Contrast Checker
Check out WebAim Contrast Checker
SiteImprove
Learn about Siteimprove Color Tools
Color Blindness Simulator
Try the Simulator

Assistive Technology

VoiceOver- Mac
See VoiceOver Guide
NVDA – Windows
See NVDA Guide
JAWS – Windows
See JAWS Guide

Standards & Guidelines

WebAim
Visit WebAim.org
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2 Level Guidelines
See all WCAG guidelines
Section 508
See Full Guidelines
State of Utah Accessibility Guidelines
See Accessibility Guidelines

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