IC web pages are hosted by and developed using a content management system called Drupal (much like course content is created within Canvas, IC's primary learning management system). Drupal provides a flexible framework that allows content creators to design accessible pages, but this is only possible if creators follow specific guidelines and best practices as outlined below. More information about how Drupal can be used to create dynamic and accessible web content is available in the IC Design System website.
Designing Web Pages at IC
Most departments at IC are responsible for creating their own web content. There are easy ways to ensure that this content is accessible.
What is Drupal and why you need to know!
Navigation and Structure
- Provide a logical navigation structure that allows visitors to easily navigate the content of your site.
- Use built-in tools such as headings and lists to structure your text. Headings provide a logical hierarchy to page content. Most of the content elements used to build IC web pages provide ways to add headings. The dropdown menu in the content editor provides one additional heading level (heading level 4) to add to your content.
- Keep paragraphs short and break up text with lists and other layout elements to avoid large blocks of text.
- Use list formatting tools to create ordered (numbered) and unordered (bulleted) lists.
- Use tables for data, not for pate or content layout.
Text Elements
- Select clear, easy-to-read fonts, preferably sans-serif. Only use fonts that are readily available.
- Make font and text size large enough to make content readable at standard magnification. Consider what the text will look like on different devices.
- Use UPPERCASE, bold, and italic text sparingly. Do not underline text unless the text represents a link to other content.
- Left-align paragraph text. Do not justify text (i.e., align to both the left and right margins).
- Keep language simple and direct. Avoid acronyms and jargon.
Color
- Check to ensure sufficient color contrast (use a color checker such as WebAIM or CCA). This applies to all content elements including text, logos, and components of graphs and charts.
- Do not use color as the only method to convey information. Graphics and/or text should be readable and distinguishable if viewed in grayscale only.
Image and Graphic Elements
- All images should have appropriate, concise, alternative text. Include longer descriptions for more complex images. Do not use file names or rely on automatically generated descriptions for alt text.
- If an image conveys no useful information, mark it as decorative.
- Provide equivalent alternatives to complex images or any image containing text (such as infographics) in context or on a separate (linked) page.
Hyperlinks and Link Text
- Use meaningful link text (e.g., "learn more about meaningful links" and not "to learn more about meaningful links, click here"). Users should be able to tell what kind of information the link provides (or leads to) from the link text itself.
- Any link presented as a URL should be short and uncomplicated (e.g., www.ithaca.edu).
- All link text should be unique unless the links are leading the reader to the same location.
Videos and Other Media Content
- Videos should be captioned. Auto-captions are NOT sufficient; they generally include too many errors and typically do not contain essential elements such as accurate punctuation. Learn more about captioned media in the IC Captioning 101 Guide.
- Podcasts and other audio-only content should have an accessible transcript.
- Avoid using content that flashes, blinks, or uses sparkling animation.
- For any video that includes written content that is not spoken out loud, consider including a transcript of the written material to make the content accessible to users with visual impairments.
Documents and Linked Resources
- Linked documents should also be accessible. If you currently link to documents that are NOT accessible, consider converting the information to a web page or other accessible format. It is always easier to remove inaccessible documents or convert them instead of trying to fix something that is not currently accessible.
- If your website links out to an inaccessible page or resource consider whether there is a better, more accessible site or resource to link to.