Creating Accessible Digital Documents (WCAG Compliant♿️)

Creating Accessible Digital Documents (WCAG Compliant♿️)

Learn how to design digital documents that everyone can access, understand, and use effectively.

Let's go!

Audio Recording

Transcript: “Welcome to this interactive instructional guide on creating accessible digital documents. In this guide, you'll learn key design principles to ensure your documents comply with WCAG accessibility standards, making your content inclusive for all.”

Why Accessibility Matters

1. Inclusivity: Ensures equal access for people with disabilities. 2. Legal Compliance: Meets requirements under accessibility laws (e.g., ADA, Section 508). 3. Enhanced User Experience: Improves readability and navigation for all users. 4. Broader Reach: Accessible content reaches a larger, diverse audience.

Start Guide!

Index

1. Objective

2. Modules

3. Assessment

Objectives

• Understand why creating accessible digital documents is essential.
• Identify and explain the core WCAG principles.
• Apply accessibility best practices to fonts, headings, images, tables, lists, and color choices.
• Evaluate digital documents for WCAG compliance using an interactive checklist.

Modules

Testing and Evaluating Accessibility

Module 3

Creating Accessible Documents

Module 2

Foundational Accessibility Principles

Module 1

What is WCAG?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ensure that digital content is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. These guidelines follow four key principles: Perceivable (content must be recognizable, e.g., alt text for images), Operable (users must be able to navigate easily, e.g., keyboard-friendly design), Understandable (information should be clear and predictable, e.g., readable text), and Robust (content should be compatible with different technologies, e.g., screen readers). By following these principles, we create inclusive and user-friendly digital documents.

Common Barriers to Accessibility

Unreadable Text – Small font sizes, poor contrast, or overly decorative fonts make reading difficult. Poor Keyboard Navigation – Some users cannot use a mouse and rely on keyboard shortcuts to navigate. Inaccessible Color Choices – Low-contrast text or color-dependent information can be hard to perceive for visually impaired users.

Fun Fact!

Text and Heading Structure

Using clear, structured text helps everyone read and navigate documents, especially users with assistive technologies. Choose readable fonts like Arial or Calibri, keep font sizes 12pt+ for body text and 16-18pt for headings, and use proper H1, H2, H3 heading styles instead of just bolding text. Left-align text, use 1.5x line spacing, and avoid cramped or decorative fonts to improve readability. Well-structured text makes documents clearer and accessible for all.

Fun Facts About Visual Processing and Accessibility

25%

90%

The World Health Organization's World Health Survey data from 2002 to 2004 gave a far higher estimate that 25% of people in India have some form of disability, much higher than the world average, but WHO has acknowledged that this survey had serious limitations.

Approximately 90% of people who are visually impaired live in developing countries.

82%

80%

More than 82% of all people who are blind are aged 50 years and older, although they

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of visual loss is either preventable or curable with treatment.

Video Demo

This YouTube video is a crash course on how to create a WCAG Compliant Website. Check it out!

Image & Multimedia Accessibility (Alt Text & Captions)

Visual content enhances documents, but without accessibility features, it can exclude users with visual or hearing impairments. Follow these best practices:

Provide Captions & Transcripts for Videos – This benefits users with hearing impairments and enhances comprehension.

Use Alt Text for Images – Describe images concisely so screen readers can convey their meaning.

Avoid Vague Descriptions – Instead of "image of a chart," write "Bar chart showing a 20% increase in accessibility awareness."

The Importance of Color Contrast and Readability

Poor color contrast makes text hard to read, especially for users with visual impairments like color blindness. To improve accessibility, ensure a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (WCAG guidelines). Avoid using color alone to convey meaning—add labels or icons for clarity. Use high-contrast combinations like black on white and avoid low-contrast pairs like light gray on white. Test designs with contrast checkers to ensure compliance and readability for all users.

Accessibility Checklist & Document Evaluation

To ensure accessibility, use structured headings (H1, H2, H3), readable sans-serif fonts (12pt+), and proper spacing for clarity. Images should have descriptive alt text, videos must include captions, and text should meet WCAG contrast standards (4.5:1). Test accessibility using tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker or built-in Microsoft Word/Google Docs accessibility checkers to create inclusive, user-friendly documents.

WebAIM - Contrast Checker

Using built-in accessibility checkers, like the one shown here, helps identify and fix common accessibility issues, ensuring documents are inclusive for all users.

Fun Fact!

GET READY FOR YOUR QUIZ!

1/3

2/3

5/5

Congratulations! Guide Completed!

Hope you enjoyed 😊

Over 2.2 billion people worldwide have some form of visual impairment. Making documents accessible not only helps those with disabilities but improves readability for everyone!

Over 70% of digital content is inaccessible to people with disabilities, making accessibility testing a crucial step in document creation.