First Steps in Creating an Accessible Website
We’ve compiled a top-five list of items for you when creating an accessible webpage or editing existing web pages. These are the items that everyone can follow to make their websites more accessible.
Communications
Disability Language Style Guide
Disability Language Style Guide is also a downloadable PDF that lists appropriate terms and phrases when referring to people with disabilities in publications or conversations. Translated versions are available.
WebAIM: Microsoft Word Creating Accessible Documents
WebAIM has created a valuable resource, instructing users on how to make accessible documents using Microsoft Word. This website is particularly useful for anyone who wishes to make word documents that are born accessible.
Best Practices for Alberta Public Libraries
If you are a part of a public library in Alberta, this resource can help you find the general guidelines and additional resources on implementing the standards in the document.
Inclusive Language in A Canadian Style Guide
It is important to follow style guides in media. This guide offers an array of options for talking about disabilities.
Assistive Technology Demonstrations
Assistive technology refers to products, equipment, and systems that enhance reading, learning, working, and daily living for people with disabilities. We have provided explanations and a few examples of demonstrations on how people use assistive technologies so you can understand their role in their lives.
Respectful and Plain Language
Respectful and Plain Language is a communication guide for library staff when interacting with and assisting the public.
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Image Tutorial
Website developers should note these resources as they explain how to use images correctly (and accessibly). The original resources contain more detailed information, and you can find links to specific standards and WCAG success criteria there.
Rules for the Microsoft Accessibility Checker
The rules for the Microsoft accessibility checker are a thorough guide to the various ways a user can ensure that their Microsoft 365 files are accessible. This guide is a helpful resource for library staff and patrons alike to help ensure your Microsoft creations are accessible.
Plain Language
The Government of British Columbia has compiled a comprehensive resource of plain language tools. This webpage provides applications, articles, videos, and related resources for government writers whose work may be read by professionals or the public.
Accessible Fonts
There are a lot of varying opinions on how to do accessible fonts. There is no uniform consensus, but there are some general guidelines for publishers and presenters to pay attention to.
Checklist: Adding Alternative Text and Long Descriptions
If your documents, websites, or digital materials (emails, social media posts, programming materials, etc.) have images, gifs, graphics, charts, graphs, maps, and tables, you must add alternative text to describe them. Long descriptions are needed as well for more complex images.
Social Media Platforms Webinar
Watch the Social Media Platform webinar to learn about multiple platforms’ accessibility advantages and barriers, with recorded demonstrations of the barriers in select platforms.
Accessibility Etiquette in the Library Panel Discussion
The Accessibility Etiquette panel brings together a group of experts to talk about their positive and negative library experiences, how those experiences could have been improved, with suggestions on how to do so.
Accessible Spreadsheet Checklist
This outline discusses and provides guidelines for creating accessible spreadsheets – in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and Apple Numbers. Accessible spreadsheets create an inclusive experience and ensure the information is understandable for all library staff and patrons.
Checklist: Email Accessibility
This checklist contains best practices to ensure that people with multiple print disabilities can easily consume the content of an email. Follow this checklist to make your emails accessible!
Checklist: Creating Accessible Presentations
When creating presentations, ensuring the file and the content you present are accessible is essential so everyone can access and understand the information you are discussing. The webinar series focuses on three presentation programs – Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and Google Slides.
Creating Accessible Presentations: Images, Graphics, and Videos Webinar Recording
In the third webinar of our four-part Creating Accessible Presentation series, we learn how to make your images, graphics and videos accessible. The webinar features demonstrations by persons with lived experience of a disability on how images, graphics and videos can be inaccessible.
Creating Accessible Presentations: Features and Tools Webinar Recording
The second webinar in our four-part Creating Accessible Presentations series talks about many of the features and tools available in PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote. This presentation discusses topics including tables, animations, annotations, comments, and more.
Creating Accessible Presentations: Getting Started Webinar Recording
Ready to learn about creating accessible presentation slides in Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and Google Slides? Watch the first webinar in the four-part series to get started.