ADA Compliance 

Suggested Guidelines for Online Courses

Links

• Do not use hyperlinks of the type "click here." Screen readers have an option to list and read all hyperlinks on a page. A list of twenty items all reading "click here" would not be instructive.

Text

• Research shows that sans-serif fonts are more easily read on computer monitors than are serif fonts.

• Black text on a white background is recommended.

• Use only one font.

• Limit use of all CAPS, italics or bold text.

• Do not use underlining for emphasis (it can be mistaken for a link).

Graphics

• All graphics should have alternative text (alt tags) for ADA Section 508 compliance. Screen readers are then able to read what the image is.

• The text information in the alt tag associated with an image/graphic should, when possible, communicate the same information as its image/graphic.

Color

• There should be a high contrast between the background color and the font color.

• Avoid extremely bright colors as a background color, it makes text very hard to read.

Animation

• Refrain from using animated or blinking images, text or cursors. These can cause seizures for some people.

Video and Audio

• Provide close-captioning or have accompanying text-based scripts for all video.

• Provide text versions of all audio files.

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Accessibility Resources Online

• http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm
  A list of the requirements for Section 508

• http://www.w3.org/WAI/Resources/ 
  A good overview of  Web Accessibility

• http://trace.wisc.edu/world/web/
  Advice on now to design more usable Web sites.

• http://www.cynthiasays.com/
  Web content accessibility validation solution, designed to identify errors in design related to Section 508 standards and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.  This service is a free accessibility validation tester.