Use built in Styles and Formatting to mark up headers and lists in documents. This provides structure to content visually and when it is read aloud by a screen reader like JAWS.
Provide alternative text descriptions for images which include: descriptive, decorative and/or charts. Consider purpose, significance and context of image for Alternative text description.
Provide descriptive labels for hyperlinks (e.g. use http://www.csuci.edu instead of www.csuci.edu).
Keep tables simple; screen readers read tables from left to right not in the way you arrange your data in the table.
Make documents available in other formats (PDF or HTML) as needed.
Additional Resources
Microsoft Word Accessibility This web page, created by the CSU Chancellor's Office, has excellent downloadable written tutorials and videos that explain the process of making Microsoft Word documents ADA -compliant for your students.
Before you create your PDF, start with an accessible document (e.g. Word – add alternate text to images and use styles; PowerPoint – create in Outline mode).
Use the Acrobat “Create PDF” button (appears in the menu bar) to create your PDF file
Existing PDF files (or PDF files not created using the Acrobat icon) use Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional Accessibility checker to check for and/or fix accessibility problems. Exceptions: Scanned documents or fillable PDF forms, use Acrobat to make PDF accessible.
Adobe PDF Accessibility Resources
CSU Chancellor's Office - PDF Accessibility - This web page, created by the CSU Chancellor's Office, has excellent downloadable written tutorials and videos that explain the process of making Adobe PDF documents ADA-compliant for your students. Note: The videos on this page are the best we've seen for explaining the process of making PDFs compliant.
