Websites

Ensuring that our website and digital communications are accessible helps provide equal access for all students, faculty, and staff. From public-facing web pages to internal newsletters, emails, and social media posts, digital content should be designed to accommodate anyone accessing it.

This series will cover key accessibility practices including proper use of alternative text for images, color contrast considerations, accessible document formats, and best practices for email and social media communication. By implementing these strategies, you can help create an inclusive digital experience for everyone.

  • Office Documents and PDFs on Websites
    Office documents and PDFs are widely used in internal processes at Missouri S&T; however, they pose challenges when served as part of a website. Not only are they difficult to manage and update in TerminalFour, they’re usually inconvenient to view. Among other problems, Office documents and PDFs when used on the web: In general, you…
  • Tabular data on websites
    You sometimes need to represent tabular data like lists of contacts, inventories of equipment, or public research data, but tables can be challenging to create on websites. Not only are they difficult to set up correctly in website editors, they’re complicated to style and often have serious display issues. Phone users in particular have trouble…
  • Plain language
    What is plain language? Plain language is writing that is clear, direct and easy for your audience to understand the first time they read it. Its purpose is to make information accessible to everyone, including people with language barriers or cognitive challenges. Using plain language improves user experience and helps ensure your message gets across…
  • Typography guidelines
    Typography involves arranging letters and text in a way that is legible and readable. Typefaces and fonts When choosing a font keep in mind that some font styles are inaccessible. Decorative fonts, fonts with overlapping characters or letters, and fonts where numbers resemble letters are generally inaccessible.  Additional resource Understanding Accessible Fonts and Typography for…
  • PDF accessibility
    Does it need to be a PDF? PDF inaccessibility presents significant challenges and access barriers for people with disabilities. Before creating or uploading a PDF, consider whether the document needs to be a PDF. Whenever possible, web pages (HTML) are recommended over PDFs. Explore the PDF Decision Tree. If a PDF is necessary, all PDF…
  • Headings and structure
    Headings help users understand the information hierarchy to identify a page’s or email’s main points and topics quickly. Heading elements (<h1>-<h2>) allow screen reader users to navigate content more efficiently by jumping to different sections and accessing desired information quickly. Clear and descriptive headings also help with comprehension and reduce cognitive load by breaking the text into…
  • Accessibility checker: Web content
    A variety of specialized tools exist to help developers and teams evaluate and improve web accessibility. …
  • Accessibility checker: Color contrast
    Color contrast tools streamline the design phase by quickly assessing text legibility and ensuring adequate visual contrast. Many color contrast checkers are available online to help ensure your designs meet accessibility standards. Below, we’ve listed some well-known tools to help you get started, but you can explore others to find the one that best suits…
  • Evaluation guide: Web content
    To quickly assess or deepen your understanding of web accessibility, several introductory and intermediate checklists and guides are available. These resources help you evaluate compliance with standards like WCAG and Section 508, supporting effective accessibility testing and remediation. Introductory Intermediate…
  • Color contrast
    Color contrast is the difference in brightness between text (foreground) and its background. Good color contrast makes content readable for everyone, including people with low vision or color blindness. Missouri S&T’s accessibility standards: Why it matters: Strong color contrast ensures your content is visible on all devices and in different lighting. Poor contrast can make…