Electronic Barriers

Individuals with visual impairments may use adaptive technology such as screen readers to read the words on a webpage aloud. Screen readers cannot scan and interpret pictures and images. Additionally, some formats may appear to be in text, but are actually images of a document.

• Use alt tag descriptions for any images.
• Ensure that PDFs and other text documents can be accessed with a screen reader.

• Do not use color to convey meaning.

• Supply keyboard alternatives for mouse usage.

• Provide audio descriptions of events in videos that cannot be interpreted by audio alone.
• When giving a presentation, convey the information on PowerPoint slides and other visual aids verbally.

Users might become confused at complex website layouts or inconsistent navigational schemes.

• Simplify the layout as much as possible.
• Keep the navigational scheme consistent to the degree possible.

• Where appropriate, group sections of text under logical headings.
• Organize information into manageable pieces.

Audio is inaccessible.

• Provide captioning or transcripts for audio clips.

Users may not be able to operate a mouse.

• Ensure that all of the functions can be accessed through a keyboard. Tab from link to link to determine whether the keyboard can effectively access information on the page.