SUNY Polytechnic's web presence is critical to communicating with our community. In order to be fully inclusive, SUNY Polytechnic's websites must be accessible to everyone. The guidelines below must be followed when creating web content in order for it to be accessible to everyone.
At a minimum, website content must meet the WCAG 2.0 standards.
Accessible Website Features
Accessible websites have the following attributes:
- HTML headings. Headings provide an outline so that a user will understand the page layout, and they provide a target to allow a user to jump from heading to heading. Headings also provide for a better-organized and clearer website for all users, regardless of whether they access the site through assistive technology.
- Link text is descriptive, but short and easy to convey with voice commands. Long URLs should not be used as link text, nor should non-descriptive phrases like "click here" without further explanation.
- Alternative text ("alt text") to describe pictures, graphs, and other visual information that is not in text format.
- Text color is not used to convey meaning and has sufficient contrast against the background. Where colors are used, they must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
- Keyboard Accessibility. A user can easily access content using the tab key. You can test this by setting aside your mouse and trying to navigate the site using only your keyboard.
- Descriptive title tags. Title tags succinctly define the purpose of the webpage so that users can orient themselves within the site. The content of the title tag is also displayed inside the window tab in many browsers.
- Language attribute. A language attribute should always be included in the opening html tag.
- Videos, including livestreams, must be captioned and contain no more than 3 flashes per second.
- Forms contain descriptive labels for each field for screen readers.
- Accessible menus do not require a user to hover over them with a mouse. Dropdown menus can present challenges for individuals using assistive technology.
- Columns are used to divide content into sections instead of data tables. Where a data table is used to present data, it is either presented in a simple table or series of simple tables with table headers, or there is sufficient alternative text to allow a user to understand the content of the table.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 provide detailed information about standards in accessible content. WCAG instructs that web content should follow these principles:
- It must be perceivable, either alone or through assistive technology.
- It must be operable by individuals regardless of whether they use assistive technology, or whether they have visual, hearing, motor or other impairments;
- Content must be readable and understandable, and the website should operate in predictable ways;
- It must be robust and able to be accessed through a variety of assistive technologies.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) publishes detailed guidelines about WCAG 2.0 compliance that outlines how websites can meet each of these principles.
