Creating ADA Compliant Courses

Perceivable

With perceivable content, you provide options for learners to adjust the presentation of information to suit their individual needs and preferences. 

To make your content perceivable:

• Add text descriptions to your images.

• Include closed captions and transcripts.

• Provide sufficient color contrast.

• Do not use color alone.

• Make your text readable and legible.

Perceivable Checklist: 

• Does the material provide options for customizing the display (e.g., adjusting the text size and changing the background and text colors to increase the contrast)? 

• Does the material include accessible alternatives for embedded media (e.g., alternative text for images, captions for videos, transcripts for audio)? 

• Does the material include accessible alternatives for special notation (e.g., MathML for math equations)?

Operable

With operable content, you will provide your learners options for how they can navigate and interact with the content: with a mouse, a keyboard, or even voice commands.

To make your content operable:

• Provide a clear structure with headings.

• Create descriptive links.

• Check for keyboard accessibility.

• Provide sufficient time.

• Avoid content that flashes.

Operable Checklist:

• Does the material provide flexible options for navigation and response where appropriate (e.g., keyboard shortcuts, screen gestures, voice control)? 

• Does the material include location supports to allow readers to track progress (e.g., page numbers, progress bars, table of contents)? 

• Is the timing or pace of presentation flexible and customizable (e.g., option for extending session time limit, flexible playback speeds for audio and video)? 

• Does the material avoid the use of flashing content that could trigger a seizure?

Understandable

With understandable content, your learners can focus more of their effort on understanding the information rather than on working around barriers in the design. 

To make your content understandable:

• Provide clear directions.

• Aim for consistency.

• Use plain language.

• Identify the language.

Understandable Checklist:

• Is the language of the material appropriate for the intended audience? 

• Does the material include definitions of key terms that are essential for understanding (e.g., a glossary, expansions for abbreviations)? 

• Does the material guide expected responses (e.g., rubrics, length requirements, suggested formats)? 

• Does the material behave in an intuitive, predictable, and logical manner (e.g., consistent navigation, explanations of unique features to help new users)? 

• Is feedback provided in multiple ways (e.g., errors identified with more than color or sound)?

Robust

Robust content works for your learners in a variety of web browsers and devices (including tablets and smartphones).

To make your content robust.

• Provide descriptive metadata.

• Perform an accessibility check.

• Test for accessibility with people.

Robust Checklist:

• Does the material work on different operating systems and platforms (desktop as well as mobile)? 

• Does the material need special plug-ins to work? 

• Does the material have copyright protections that could block assistive technologies? 

• Does the material include an accessibility statement along with some way to report accessibility issues?