Assistive Technology Initiative

ICT Accessibility Standards

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Accessibility Standards include guidelines to ensure that all electronic information, resources and services provided by Mason are accessible to people with disabilities.  This includes, websites, online learning systems, software and hardware applications, telecommunications, desktop and portable computers.

The following information provides guidance on how to create an accessible components for web and software applications accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.  For additional information about meeting accessibility requirements, please contact the IT Accessibility Coordinator.

 Major components included in accessibility guidelines include:  (1) images, (2) links, (3) navigation, (4) form fields, (5) tables, (6) text content (7) video & multimedia and (8) page structure.


 

 1. How to Make Images Accessible  (508 A,  WCAG 1.1.1)

Provide a text alternative for images (e.g., logos, pictures, icons)

Supply empty “alt” tags for unessential decorative images.

Providing alt-text to image maps 

 


 2. How to Make Links Accessible

Use meaningful title attributes. (WCAG 2.4.4)

Avoid vague link names like “click here” (WCAG 2.4.9)

 


 3. How to Make Navigation Accessible

Keep navigation consistent.

Make each page navigable by keyboard alone. (*508 L)  (WCAG 2.11

Add skip to content links (508 O) (WCAG 2.4.1)

Provide a visible focus (*WCAG 2.4.7)

Provide structure and functionality to carousels/slideshows

 


 4. How to Make Forms Accessible

Add associated labels to form elements. (508 N) (WCAG 3.3.2)

 


 5. How to Make Tables Accessible

Use Proper Table Headings & Titles (508 H) (WCAG 1.3.1)

 


 6. How to Make Text Content Accessible 

Use heading tags  (WCAG 2.4.6)

Provide sufficient color contrast (508 C) (WCAG 1.4.1)

Set language, “lang” attribute (WCAG 3.1.1)

 


 7. How to Make Video and Multimedia Components Accessible

 


 8. Web Site Structure Considerations

Avoid using frames when possible

Add a meaningful page title.

Avoid CAPTCHAs. (WCAG 1.1.1)