Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES logo in white on a dark blue background

Logo Title

Website Accessibility Tips

What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility means that a website is developed and designed so that content can be accessed by everyone, regardless of any visual, auditory or other disabilities a person might have. Web accessibility is important to ensure that everyone can understand, operate and navigate the website effectively. See tips below on how to ensure accessibility.

A simple black and white image depicting a landscape with mountains and a sun or moon-like shape in the background.

Images

Add alternative text to all uploaded images. In the alt text, briefly describe the image.

The image depicts the uppercase and lowercase letters %22H1%22 in a simple, bold black font against a plain white background.

Text Headers

Remember to use heading tags. Use the Heading 1 (H1) tag for webpage titles.
Only use one Heading 1 tag per webpage.

Use Heading 2 (H2) tags for main headings on a webpage and Heading 3 (H3) tags for sub-headings.

Screen readers often scan a page for such tags. Do not apply additional formatting to heading tags.

A black silhouette of a palette with six white circular shapes arranged within it against a white background.

Colors & Color Contrast

Color contrast between the background and foreground should be strong. 

Example: Yellow text on a white background is not compliant as there is not enough contrast.

Your website header, footer and background colors already have ample color contrast as part of the website setup process.

A black and white icon depicting a document file with the text %22PDF%22 displayed on it.

PDF Documents

Try to display PDF content in an HTML format within a webpage where reasonably possible, and also include a link to the PDF file. This ensures that content is in a secondary accessible format.

Additionally, PDF documents can also be made accessible by using accessibility tools within Adobe Acrobat Pro.

A simple black chain link icon against a white background.

Titles to Links

Hyperlink the descriptive portion of the text and clearly state the action the user is about to take on the hyperlink. This lets the user know what page they are about to be brought to.

Example: Use click here for BOE meeting minutes instead of click here for BOE meeting minutes.

Avoid underlining text that is not a hyperlink.

A black square with six smaller black squares arranged in a 2x3 grid.

Tables

Tables should only be used for tabular data. Do not use tables to control page layouts. Instead, use the layout module in your website.

Screen readers can navigate through table cells one at a time and users will hear the column and row headers spoken to them.

QUESTIONS ABOUT WEB ACCESSIBILITY?

Reach out to the OHM BOCES Webmaster at webmaster@oneida-boces.org.