Section 9: Tips and Resources

Quick Tips for Making Documents Accessible

run the Accessibility Checker on Word documents and have Word versions available for easy changes
add headings to help with document navigation
write in plain language
include the access offer statement on documents and websites, such as "This information is available in alternate formats on request." Also make sure to include how someone can obtain the alternative format
use at least 12pt font size
use sans serif fonts (e.g., Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, and Helvetica)
align content to the left – avoid “justify” and use “centre” sparingly
avoid all caps and italics; also, bold can be helpful when used sparingly to add emphasis
apply a high contrast background, such as black text on white background

Create "alt tags" or alternate text, which are descriptions of images for people who use screen readers.

it is easier to think about accessibility before you start a project (i.e., during the planning stages) than attempting to build-in accessibility features later
turn on captioning and accessibility options (e.g., call-in using phone) for virtual meetings, and webinars

Additional resources related to the Accessible Information and Communication Standard are available on the Manitoba Accessibility Office website (opens in a new tab).

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