Digital Accessibility
TEL is committed to providing an inclusive digital learning infrastructure in MTU. The Department’s approach to supporting online, blended and distance learning is grounded in principles of instructional design, universal design and user experience design, providing a flexible, equitable learning environment and helping to enrich the learning experience of all students.
Digital accessibility works best when it is considered from the beginning, but many of us are also working with older content that may need improvement. These resources will help you get started, create more accessible content and identify common barriers in existing material.
If you are just getting started, these short guides are a good place to begin.
- What is digital accessibility?
Find out what digital accessibility means, who benefits and why it matters. - Accessibility essentials
Start with the key things everyone can do to make digital content more accessible. - Standards and requirements
Learn about WCAG and the accessibility standards behind the practical guidance on this site.
Choose the area that best matches what you are working on:
- Creating accessible content
Guidance on headings, links, alternative text, colour, tables and writing clear content. - Documents and presentations
Create more accessible Word documents, PowerPoint presentations and PDFs. - Media
Make video and audio more accessible with captions, transcripts and other alternatives.
You don’t have to tackle everything at once but if you’re reviewing an existing digital resource, start with the Five-minute accessibility check. It can help you spot some common barriers and work out what may need more attention.
Looking for something specific? These are some of the most useful everyday guides:
- Alternative text
Learn when images need alt text and how to write useful descriptions. - Colour contrast
Find out what how to check colour contrast and use colour effectively. - Accessible Microsoft Word documents
Use headings, images, links, tables and Word’s Accessibility Checker more effectively. - Accessible Powerpoint presentations
Create slides that are easier to navigate, understand and present accessibly. - Keyboard testing
Check whether important content and controls can be reached and used without a mouse. - Captions
Learn what good captions should include and how to check them before publishing.
Follow the links to find guidance on making content more accessible in Canvas and Zoom, including how to use the UDOIT Advantage.
- Canvas accessibility
Guidance on creating more accessible Canvas content and using available accessibility features. - Zoom accessibility
Guidance on captions, transcripts and accessible online sessions. - UDOIT Advantage Accessibility Checker
Find out about tools that can help identify common accessibility issues in digital content.