Consistent with a campus that is welcoming to all, SensusAccess makes electronic documents such as PDF files or Microsoft PowerPoint presentations more accessible to audiences of all abilities through remediation or conversion to more usable formats, including audio, e-books, digital Braille, digital large-print and BeeLine Reader. SensusAccess also can translate documents from one language into another. The service is available for use by students, faculty and staff at no cost. Stop by our ITS Digital Accessibility Office Hours to learn more about SensusAccess and other digital accessibility topics.
News & Updates
Tech Tip: Use Concise Alt Text to Convey Image Purpose
Adding alternative text descriptions (alt text) to images in your documents, emails and websites is a must for accessibility. But what should you include in your alt text? Avoid extraneous details and instead use concise language that conveys the purpose of the image. For example, “Syracuse University mascot Otto the Orange works on a laptop in the ITS Service Center” is appropriate alt text for the featured image of this post. Do not begin your alt text with phrases such as “a photo of” or “a picture of.” Finally, check any AI-generated alt text for accuracy. Visit Creating Accessible MS Word Documents to learn more about alt text for images or stop by our ITS Digital Accessibility Office Hours.
Tech Tip: Choose Color Combinations With Contrast
When designing your web page, electronic signage, presentations or emails, choose color combinations that ensure text and meaningful graphics are easy to see. Low contrast between the text color and the background color can be an access barrier for people with low vision. Free tools such as the TPGi Analyzer and the WAVE Evaluation Tool can test color contrast and let you know if your digital product meets accessibility standards. To learn more about use of color and color contrast, visit our Digital Accessibility Office Hours.
Tech Tip: Use Microsoft Apps’ Built-in Accessibility Checker
Before you send an Outlook email message or share a Word document, Excel spreadsheet or PowerPoint presentation, run the Accessibility Checker located in the Review tab of your Microsoft application. The checker will identify issues within your document or message that could pose barriers to certain users. The tool will also provide instructions on how to correct identified issues. For additional support, visit our Digital Accessibility Office Hours.
Tech Tip: Accessibility Overlays Are Not the Solution
Have you ever encountered a floating accessibility icon that allows you to change the visual appearance of a website? Beware! There is no overlay product on the market that can make a website compliant with accessibility standards. Nonetheless, many companies who sell accessibility overlays claim their tool is the solution. In fact, these tools often create more problems for users of assistive technology. To learn more about accessibility overlays and what to avoid, visit our Digital Accessibility Office Hours.
Tech Tip: Use the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
Building a webpage or online form? Use the WAVE evaluation tool to check accessibility. WAVE is available as a free browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. WAVE quickly scans web content and identifies many barriers to persons with disabilities. It doesn’t catch everything, but can help you create more accessible web content. To learn more about the tool, including its use and how to interpret results, drop in to our Digital Accessibility Office Hours.
Tech Tip: Choose Online Forms
Making PDF forms accessible is tedious work and requires expertise or professional remediation. Therefore, before creating a form in MS Word or PDF, consider creating an online form instead. Online form platforms such as MS Forms and Qualtrics provide accessible options. In addition, data can be exported in Excel and/or aggregated into reports. Visit Digital Accessibility Office Hours to learn more about accessible online form options.
Tech Tip: Create Meaningful Hyperlinks in Email Messages and Electronic Documents
Make links in your email messages and electronic documents meaningful for users of assistive technology. Follow these simple steps:
- Select the text you want to become a link.
- On Mac, press command + K.
- On Windows, control + K.
- Paste the URL in the hyperlink dialog box.
- Be sure your link text conveys the purpose or destination of the link. Avoid using words such as “click here”.
For more information, visit Creating Accessible MS Word Documents or stop in to Digital Accessibility Office Hours.
Tech Tip: Kahoot! Games May Leave Some Students on the Sidelines
Kahoot!, a game-based learning platform for web and mobile, has become popular in nearly all educational settings. Before creating a Kahoot!, please be aware that these games pose many challenges for students with disabilities. Read “Is Kahoot! Accessible?” on Answers to learn more about access barriers and steps you can take to create a more accessible experience.
Tech Tip: Use Heading Styles in MS Word
Adding heading styles to your Word documents is an easy way to make them accessible. People who are blind and use screen reader technology rely on heading structure to navigate documents and locate content. To learn more, visit Creating Accessible MS Word Documents or stop in to Digital Accessibility Office Hours.