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Why Document Accessibility Matters?

In today's digital world, it's crucial to create content that can be accessed by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. This is especially important for documents that are shared online, regardless of their format (PDF, Word, Excel, etc.).

Even if you're not directly involved in website management, you play a vital role in document accessibility. Whether you're a writer, editor, or content creator, the materials you produce need to be accessible to all.

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Belonging

Accessible documents ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and understand the information. This is not only ethically right but often required by law.

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Improved SEO

Search engines can more easily crawl and index accessible documents, making it easier for people to find your content. This can lead to increased visibility and engagement.

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Improved Usability

Accessible documents benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities. Clear formatting, headings, and image descriptions create a better reading experience for all.

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Professionalism

Creating accessible documents demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity and quality, enhancing your organization's reputation.

Resources:

Ready to create accessible documents? Explore our comprehensive resources for various licensed tools.

Checklist:

The principles of digital accessibility extend beyond websites to encompass documents as well. Therefore, many of the same accessibility requirements are applicable.

While this checklist does not guarantee full accessibility, it is imperative that the issues identified be addressed. These improvements will enhance the user experience for all visitors, including those with a wide range of disabilities.

It is crucial to understand that achieving "perfect accessibility" is an ongoing process, not a finite goal. Beware of any claims promising "100% accessibility" – such assurances are misleading and often unfounded.

For professional guidance and support in ensuring your site meets accessibility standards, please reach out to us.

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Skip the documents!

Prioritize presenting content directly on your website whenever possible. This makes it easier for everyone to engage with the material. Only use documents when absolutely necessary.

Use simple and clear language

Write in plain language and avoid jargon to make your content easy to understand.

Structure your headings

Structure your document with clear headings and styles to make it easier to navigate and understand.

Add alternative text to images

Provide detailed descriptions for all visual and auditory content using alternative text. This allows assistive technologies, including screen readers, keyboard navigation software, and braille displays, to accurately interpret and present the information to users with varying disabilities.

Use sufficient color contrast

Improve the readability and accessibility of your content by using strong color contrast between foreground elements (like text) and background elements. This benefits everyone, especially users with visual impairments.

Read more about brand compliant color combinations

 

Use simple table structure

Keep your tables simple and accessible by using a clear structure with rows and columns, and concise column headers. Avoid complex features like split cells, merged cells, and nested tables to ensure everyone can easily understand the information.

Provide captions & transcripts

Provide captions for all videos with audio and offer text transcripts for audio content.