This page establishes the standards we are required to follow and explains how each Rausser College unit, staff member, and student is responsible for. We hope it will provide a helpful introduction for people new to accessibility work and a useful reference when questions arise.
What is required?
For those new to thinking about digital accessibility, there are a few basic concepts that everyone should be aware of. These concepts apply in different ways, depending on the content type and platform.
Alt Text
All meaningful images require descriptive alt text so that screen readers can convey their content. Learn more about Alt Text at the DAP website.
Captions and Transcripts
All pre-recorded and live videos require accurate, synchronized captions. Audio-only content must be accompanied by a full-text transcript that captures all spoken content and relevant non-speech audio. Learn more about color requirements. Learn more about video captions and podcast transcripts at the DAP website.
Audio Descriptions
If videos include meaningful visual content—what is on screen, what someone is doing, or what is shown in a graphic or chart—that is not explained in the audio, it must be properly described. Learn more audio description requirements.
Color
Color should never be the sole means of conveying information, and text must meet minimum contrast ratios to remain readable for users with low vision. Learn more about color use at the DAP website.
Headings
Headings must follow a logical hierarchy and accurately describe the content that follows, giving screen reader users a navigable structure to move through a page. Learn more about headings at the DAP website.
Lists
Lists should be coded properly as either ordered or unordered lists so screen readers can announce their structure and length to users. Learn more about lists at the DAP website.
Links
Link text must be descriptive enough to make sense on its own, without relying on surrounding context to explain where it leads. Learn more about accessible links at the DAP website.
Tables
Data tables require properly marked header cells so assistive technologies can communicate the relationship between a cell and its row or column label. Learn more about tables at the DAP website.
Plain Language
Content should be written clearly and simply to be understandable by the widest possible audience. Learn more about plain language at the DAP website.
A Shared Commitment
Every person who engages with Rausser College has a right to equitable access to digital resources. With such a broad constituency, ensuring our content meets digital accessibility requirements is a shared responsibility—not just the work of any one person or team.
These suggestions are not meant to be exhaustive, but are offered as a starting point to help you think about how your role and team can ensure their work
Unit Responsibilities
Departments, teams, offices, divisions, programs, and other units are central to ensuring that the content they own or produce complies with our new requirements.
Inventory digital assets
With the expanded scope, each unit should maintain an up-to-date inventory of the platforms and content types it owns or manages. This will help make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Run periodic audits
Units should make scanning their websites and platforms a regular and recurring practice. This will help identify potential issues as they arise and limit their potential scope or severity.
Build accessibility into hiring and onboarding
When new staff are hired, units should ensure they receive proper training as part of their onboarding. This training should cover the basics of digital accessibility and the best practices for the content they will create or manage.
Invest in compliance
Video captioning, audio description, document remediation, and other accessibility fixes can be performed by trained unit staff or by third-party vendors specializing in content remediation. We should no longer treat accessibility as a nice-to-have—it is a baseline expectation.
Staff Responsibilities
Most accessibility issues are introduced and can be fixed using many of the programs and tools staff use to complete their job duties. As such, it is every staff member's responsibility to ensure that the content they produce meets accessibility standards.
Know what is required of you
Changes to the ADA, Section 504, and UC policy mean new things—like emails, internal documents, unit websites, and social media pages—are now subject to digital accessibility requirements. Knowing the basic accessibility requirements and concepts will provide you with a strong foundation for success.
Make it an active part of your role
This is a fundamentally new way to think about content and communications. Commit to making accessibility a part of your workflow now, and apply the principles and concepts often. They’ll feel like second nature soon enough.
Take time to review your work
The best way to avoid accessibility issues is by reviewing your work early and often. Make sure your content is compliant before sending that email, publishing that webpage, or posting to social media.
Seek help when you need it
If you’re ever unsure if your content is accessible, ask DAP, the College’s communications or web teams, or use any of our resources before publishing. A quick conversation or reference might prevent the need for lengthy remediation.
Student Responsibilities
While students and student groups are not subject to the requirements, if the content they produce is produced on behalf of a Rausser College unit (or another UC Berkeley entity), it must meet the accessibility requirements. Managers of student employees should be prepared to train their students on accessibility requirements and how it intersects with their role, or be prepared to remediate content
None of these groups can carry accessibility on its own. We will only be successful if units, staff, and students are committed to learning the requirements and making accessibility an everyday practice.
What next?
If you’re ready to start, the Rausser College communications team has put together toolkits with hands-on guidance, resources, and materials to help ensure the content you produce meets the accessibility requirements.