Web Accessibility

Create Accessible Content

These sections will help you create materials that are accessible to everyone.

Please note: Accessibility best practices apply to all web content you create in the CMS, as well as any documents you upload or link to on your site (Word, PDF, etc.).

Student looking at computer, back of shirt says Brandeis

Web Pages

Our goal is for our websites to be understood and navigated by all people, regardless of any disability or impairment.

Accessible web pages should include: 

  • nested, descriptive headings

  • images with alt text

  • descriptive and unique hyperlinks

  • tables that are used for data, not for layout purposes
Student smiling looking down at laptop

Documents

When documents — including Word, PDF and PowerPoint — are created with accessibility in mind from the beginning, they are able to be understood by more people. 

Accessible documents should:

  • be scanned with an accessibility checker
  • utilize tagged text 
  • nested, descriptive headings

  • images with alt text

  • descriptive and unique hyperlinks

  • tables that are used for data, not for layout purposes
Two students wearing headphones working in a sound studio

Multimedia (Audio & Video)

Learn how to create captions and transcripts for your audio and video content.

  • Audio files should have transcripts available. 

  • Pre-recorded video must have captions, and a transcript is recommended. 

  • Live video should have captions. Transcripts are generally not available. 

Pie chart with multiple colors

Color and Graphics

People with color blindness often have difficulty distinguishing certain colors, such as red and green or blue and yellow. When color combinations are of insufficient contrast, the words can actually disappear to a person with colorblindness or low vision.

Professor Sarah Lamb instructing a class with a PowerPoint presentation behind her

Faculty Toolkit

Accessible instructional materials, such as syllabi and presentations, allow for as many students as possible to understand course content.