Accessibility Checklist

The Accessibility Checklist is available as a Word document download: Accessibility Checklist.

The goal of the Accessibility Checklist is to provide a deeper look at course evidence through the lens of specific QM+ standards. Using this checklist can help a reviewer make a determination about areas of strength and growth when completing Criterion 4 of the Healthy Course Checklist.

Course Reviewed:

Reviewer Name and Role (course designer, instructor, etc.):

Reviewer: After examining all course content, indicate for each section below whether the accessibility criterion is Met, Not Met, or is not applicable to this course (N/A). Where needed, provide comments to describe where partial compliance is achieved and what needs to be done to make the content accessible.

Accessibility Criteria Met or Not Met Comments: If a criterion is Not Met, is remediation possible? Describe what needs to be done to make the content accessible.
Content Format:

  • HTML and Word documents are preferred formats.
  • PDF documents are not preferred as they are least accessible.
  • No matter the format, use an accessibility checker when available (Word, PDF, PowerPoint, D2L).

Note: Accessibility checkers do not identify all accessibility errors. It is still necessary to do manual checks of documents based on the following criteria.

 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
PDF:

  • Logical reading order is verified.
  • Tags are verified to be accurate (including heading vs. paragraph tags, table header vs. table row tags, list tags, etc.).
  • Do NOT include PDF image scans.
  • PDF files have passed a PDF accessibility checker review.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
Text:

  • Text content includes correctly formatted heading styles.
  • Headings are in sequential order without skipping heading levels.
  • Only one heading level 1 (H1) per page.
  • Text organized in a list is formatted as a list (numbered, bullet points, etc.).
  • Links within the text content have descriptive, meaningful hyperlinks (not “click here”).
  • Word documents have passed the accessibility checker review and follow proper hierarchy.
  • HTML-based D2L content pages have passed the accessibility checker review.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
Images:

  • Alternative text (alt text) provides high quality descriptions so that someone who does not see the image can understand it in context.

Image alt text describes non-text content, or is blank if:

  • The image is explicitly described in the text content already (can add “described in text” as alt text), OR
  • The image is not necessary to understand the related content (is decorative).

Note: Scientific or detailed images will require a long descriptive text below the image if their content is not described in sufficient detail within the course content.

 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
Tables:

  • Tables are only used when necessary to represent data.
  • Tables include a header row, are simple in format (no nested or split tables), and do not contain blank cells. Header rows repeat if table is longer than one page.

Tables may include alt text that describes the column headings, row titles, and additional crucial details if these are not described in sufficient detail for a person who is visually impaired to understand in the surrounding content area.

 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
Math Content:

  • Math equations created in Word or HTML are created by an Equation Editor or another accessible tool.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
Videos:

  • Contains accurate closed captions.
  • For instructor-created video, script/narration provides verbal descriptions of essential information, not just visual representation.
  • Contains audio description (video description) to narrate essential visual elements that are not scripted and captured in captions.
  • Transcripts or other alternatives are provided if captions are not present.
  • Video player controls are easily visible and allow for keyboard navigation options.
  • Auto play must be disabled.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
Audio Files:

  • Audio files are accompanied by transcripts or equivalent alternatives for persons who cannot access or use the audio.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
Interactive Course Components:

  • Any external tools and technologies are verified as web accessible.
  • Activities are accessible through keyboard navigation,

OR

  • An equivalent alternative activity is provided.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
PowerPoint Presentations:

  • All slides must use a built-in layout having the “Title” element; titles are not duplicated.
  • All slide elements are set up in proper reading order.
  • PowerPoint presentations have passed an accessibility checker review.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
No Color Coding Without Additional Cues:

  • Information and text represented through the use of color must also be represented by other means, such as text formatting (bold, italics, underlining), size, pattern, or some other visual cue besides color.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here
Contrast and Readability:

  • High color contrast provides easy visibility.
  • Contrast ratios for color with text meet at least 4.5:1 with normal text (up to 14 point) and 3:1 for large text (above 14 point).
  • Recommended font size of at least 12 point for readability.
  • Recommended sans-serif font for readability.
 Enter Met or Not Met Enter notes here

 

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