Accessibility Resources

UM's Get Started with Electronic Accessibility resources and tutorials

Basic Guidelines

These accessibility guidelines include accommodations for blindness/ low vision, hearing impairments, physical limitations, and learning and reading disabilities.  This is not a complete list of accessibility considerations.

The Fundamentals:

These basic principles apply to both documents and websites. 

  1. Use headings correctly (think outline), beginning with Heading 1 for the title of your document.
  2. Include alternative (Alt) tags for all images.
  3. Use self-describing hyperlinks (link words) instead of using the URL.  Avoid using links that read "Click here", "Here", etc.  Example:  For undergraduate requirements , see the UM Course Catalog.
  4. Use ordered and unordered lists (lists are preferred to tables).
  5. Avoid using underline (indicates hyperlink) for emphasis; instead, use bold or italics.
  6. Avoid using all caps as they can be difficult to read.
  7. Avoid clutter.

On websites:

  • Documents must be in an accessible format.
  • Videos must be captioned.
  • Transcripts must accompany audio files.
  • Web-based forms built using the form-builder plugin for the Cascade cms or Qualtrics Survey Tool are preferred to printable and fillable PDF forms.  (Contact SFD for form options.)
  • Avoid placing text information (a schdule of events, job postings, requirements) in an image.  Instead, place text on a webpage. 

Accessibility Guidelines

UM Accessibility Resources