Skip to main content Jisc logo

User experience and design

  • About
  • Key considerations
  • Get started
  • Foundations
  • Guidance
    • Principles
    • Building your layout
    • Design patterns
    • Jisc style
    • User interaction
    • Technical considerations
    • Making resources accessible
  • Resources
  • Assets
  • User experience and design
  • Guidance
  • Making online resources accessible

Making online resources accessible

How to check that online content meets the accessibility regulations so that it benefits all users.

Contents

  • Images
  • Documents
  • Powerpoint presentations
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Useful resources

All Jisc websites need to comply with new regulations on the accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies. These ensure that the information and services we provide are accessible to all users, including disabled people.

Microsoft and Adobe Pro apps have inbuilt accessibility checkers which are really useful for Word, PowerPoint and pdf documents. They flag any issues and offer tips on how to make them compliant.

This is living guidance that will grow over time. Last updated 19 August 2021.

Images

All images should have meaningful file names and descriptive alt text that accurately describes the image.

  • Read the GDS guidance on images
  • Advice on when you need to use alt text from W3C

Infographics

Good infographics can be great for people who find reading lots of text hard. However, alt text is really important for these – you need to make sure you convey the full meaning in your description.

Consider who the audience is and whether the purpose of the infographic is to convey what something is, or if it is instructional. If you cannot adequately describe the meaning of the infographic, you may need to choose another way to present this information.

  • The Poet image training tool offers training and guidance on how to write effective image descriptions

Documents

Adding content to a web page as HTML is always preferable to hosting it as a separate document. For most users HTML is quicker, easier and more widely accessible. However, in some cases a Word document or pdf may be the most appropriate format.

Word documents (.docx)

If a Word document is the best format for your content:

  • Use the accessible Jisc-branded Word document template on Panacea, where appropriate
  • Make sure any links in your document have meaningful descriptions – a clear action or description such as ‘view our staff policy‘ is far more accessible than ‘to see our staff policy, click here‘
  • Using clear, helpful language is important. Read some pointers on writing clear, accessible content for the web and see our written style guide for all Jisc websites and printed materials
  • Run Microsoft’s inbuilt accessibility checker and fix any issues flagged before uploading
  • Read Jisc’s detailed guide to improving accessibility with Microsoft Word on SharePoint

Pdf documents (.pdf)

HTML is always preferable, but if a pdf is the best format for your content:

  • Use the accessible Jisc-branded Word document template on Panacea, where appropriate
  • Use the Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Accessibility Checker (or run the inbuilt Microsoft Word accessibility checker before you convert it) and fix any issues flagged before uploading
  • Read GDS guidance on documents
  • Read advice from Lexdis on making accessible pdfs and other documents

PowerPoint presentations

We can offer presentations as accessible PowerPoint or pdf downloads and host them via SlideShare. As we cannot guarantee the downloadable option SlideShare offers meets accessibility regulations we need to offer a fully accessible version of the presentation by request, so please be aware of this when creating content.

  • Use the accessible Jisc-branded PowerPoint template on Panacea, where appropriate
  • Check using Microsoft’s inbuilt accessibility checker and fix any issues flagged
  • If converting to pdf, follow the pdf document guidance and checks before uploading
  • Aim to use as large a font size as possible – ideally, size 24 – and avoid using all caps in text
  • Read Jisc’s detailed guide to improving accessibility with Microsoft PowerPoint on SharePoint

Podcasts

You must make a transcript available for any new podcast recordings you upload – offer this as a downloadable, accessible Word document.

You can use Otter.ai to create a transcript (free for up to 600 minutes per month).

Videos

All videos uploaded to or linked from Jisc websites should have closed captions and include a good, clear text description explaining what the video is showing and its purpose.

For resources such as webinars and video tutorials, you need to provide a transcript – you can offer this as a downloadable, accessible word document.

You will need to manually check captions and transcripts thoroughly for accuracy before you can share them. Captions and transcripts generated using an automated tool are a good start, but often need significant editing for accuracy and context in order to make these useful. You’ll need to ensure they contain all the meaningful content from the audio.

  • Read WCAG guidelines on time-based media (which includes videos, animations and audio recordings) from W3C
  • Read GDS guidance on making videos accessible
  • You can generate closed captions in Microsoft Stream, Microsoft Teams and YouTube
  • You can use Otter.ai to create a transcript (free for up to 600 minutes per month, limited to 40 minutes per video). Please remember to manually check these for accuracy

Audio descriptions

Ask yourself, “without audio, can I understand what the video is trying to convey?” If the answer is no, or if you are in doubt, add audio description.

  • Read W3C advice on audio description

Ensure video will not induce seizures

  • Read guidance from W3C on three flashes or below threshold

Check font size

Ideally, font size should be user selectable. If not, try and make sure it does not obscure the action in the video.

  • Read BBC guidelines on font size for closed captions

Useful resources

  • W3C’s recommendation for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1
  • Government guidance on publishing accessible documents
  • Accessibility policy for our sites
  • Accessibility statement for jisc.ac.uk
Useful links
  • Cookies
  • Privacy and your data
Contact
  • user.experience@jisc.ac.uk
Archive
  • Looking for the old pattern library?
Jisc logo

We’re a membership organisation, providing digital solutions for UK education and research

jisc.ac.uk

Areas
  • Connectivity
  • Cyber security
  • Cloud
  • Data and analytics
  • Libraries and research
  • Student experience
  • Advice and guidance
Explore
  • Guides
  • Training
  • Consultancy
  • Events
  • R&D