Additional Resources

Created by Christine Zaza, Ph.D., University of Waterloo and Reviewed by Stephanie Boragina, MMath

Tips for Creating Accessible Materials

Place text over a solid background (not over an image or a patterned or transparent background)
Use sans serif font with hefty weight that provides good contrast with the background. Note that Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Tahoma, Times New Roman, and Verdana are considered accessible fonts.
Select a text colour that provides high contrast with the background (e.g., do not use yellow text on a white background)
Do not use underline to emphasize text; underline should be used for hyperlinks only
For a PowerPoint presentation, use at least 18 pt text
Avoid using images of text; if an image of text must be used, ensure there is an alternative text format available

Use headings to organize content; each heading should describe the content that follows the heading
Apply headings using the built-in styles in the application you are using (e.g., MS Word)
Use the Heading 1 just once; this heading should describe what the document/page is about
Apply heading levels in a way that creates a logical hierarchy from the top down
Do not skip heading levels
Headings should not be applied simply to change the size or appearance of a block of text

Use tables to display information that is suitable for presenting in rows and columns
Designate table row and column headers
Include a caption
Do not leave any table cells empty

Include alternative text for images that convey meaning
For decorative images, indicate this in the image alt text
Describe complex images in surrounding text or include a long description of the image

Provide closed captions for multimedia, wherever copyright allows, and correct errors in audio-generated captions
Provide transcripts for multimedia, wherever copyright allows, and correct errors in audio-generated transcripts
Provide a descriptive video option or another alternative format to allow those who cannot see the video display to know who and what is being shown
Allow the user to control multimedia features (e.g., captions, when and how fast to play a video)
Do not use effects (e.g., flashes, motion) that can provoke unwanted physical reactions such as seizures or nausea

If a built-in accessibility checker is available in the application you are using to create your file, use it to identify and correct accessibility issues
Ensure that users can operate any interactive elements by keyboard alone (e.g., selecting a response option on a survey)
Reduce cognitive overload by 'chunking’ information into sections, with appropriate headings
When creating bulleted lists and numbered lists, use your application’s built-in tools to create these lists
Allow users to control functionality of multimedia wherever possible (e.g., ability to turn on/off closed captions; start, stop, adjust the speed; pause a video)