Plain Language Checklist
When creating content for the general public, following these guidelines can help reduce confusion and additional explanations and improve accessibility.
Curated Accessibility Resources
National Braille Press
The National Braille Press (NBP) is dedicated to empowering the blind and visually impaired by promoting braille literacy and learning through touch. NBP offers a range of programs, materials, and technology designed to support this mission, aiming to enhance accessibility and educational opportunities for those who rely on braille.
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.
Writing Principles for Web Content
The Government of Canada gives some guidance on their standards for writing web-based content. Of course, the advice applies much more broadly than just the government. We will quickly summarize some of the expectations.
The Presenter Toolkit
Rachel Shortt has created a best practice guide to presentations. The presenter toolkit covers planning and designing presentations, tips, and things to think about while giving the presentation, answering any questions that may arise from your presentation material.
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.
PressReader Testing Report
The 2020 PressReader Report provides an in-depth accessibility analysis of the PressReader website. This report highlights various accessible barriers encountered when navigating this website and accessing its content.
PrêtNumérique Testing Report
The 2021 PrêtNumérique report provides an in-depth accessibility analysis of the PrêtNumérique platform. It highlights accessible barriers encountered when testing this platform on various devices. The PrêtNumérique report is particularly useful to developers and library patrons interested in the PrêtNumérique content.
RBDigital Testing Report
The 2020 RBDigital report provides an in-depth accessibility analysis of the RBDigital platform. It highlights various accessible barriers encountered when navigating the form using various assistive technologies.
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.
Magnifier: How to Make Things Easier to Read on the Screen
Microsoft created a thorough guide to the various functions that Magnifier on Windows 10 or 11 can perform. This guide is a helpful resource for library staff and patrons alike, as it provides instruction on how to use a quality-of-life tool for low vision or users who suffer from eyestrain.
Organization of Schemas
This uniquely developer-focused resource can help us create machine-readable metadata about almost anything! This includes if a book is accessible or not and in what way.
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.
Accessibility Overlays
Accessibility overlays are software packages which are used to attempt to insert accessibility on top of a poorly accessible website. Web developers, managers with responsibility in for-profit and non-profit capacities, and content teams beware: accessibility overlays can not guarantee WCAG compliance, and they are never a substitute for properly accessible websites.
Accessibility Roles and Hiring Survey 2022
This survey, useful for hiring manager and library staff alike, gives an insight into the demographics, role distribution, and barriers faced by accessibility professional.
Accessible Formats Guide
This resource provides information on a variety of accessible formats that CELA makes books and other materials available. Librarians should use this resource to learn about different accessible formats and to inform collection building and resource provision.
Inklusion Events Guide
The Inklusion Guide is designed to help organizers create accessible literature events for in-person, online, and hybrid settings. It contains accessibility best practices and checklists for audience members and event performers.
Developing an Accessibility Plan Toolkit
The Developing an Accessibility Plan Toolkit is designed to guide libraries in meeting the accessibility plan requirements outlined in the Accessible BC Act but is also useful for any library creating or updating its accessibility plan.
Making Events Accessible
This resource offers advice and guidance for making events accessible and is designed to be used by event organizers, speakers, and participants. Library staff should use this resource when planning or participating in events.
Emojipedia
Emojipedia provides emoji descriptions, information about the emoji, like how it is commonly used, and how the different emojis are portrayed on different platforms and devices (e.g., Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, etc.). The emoji descriptions are read aloud by screen readers, so library staff should use Emojipedia when adding emojis to their social media posts.