UMB provides guidance and tools to help faculty and staff create more accessible documents including PDFs. Also consider whether the content would be better presented as a webpage.
Digital accessibility begins with awareness and action across the UMB community. New federal regulations that take effect April 24 require public universities, including UMB, to ensure that their websites, course content, digital documents, and online tools are accessible to the public and students with disabilities to access our programs, services, and activities. Over the next few months, we will be sharing information and tips each week in “The Elm Weekly.”
Improving the accessibility of documents — one of the most common ways information is shared across the University — is easier than you might think.
Before posting a document (PDF, Word, PowerPoint) to the website, consider whether the content needs to be shared as a document at all, or whether it would be better presented as a webpage.
Web content is often the better option when information is primarily informational or explanatory, needs to be updated regularly, or is intended to be read online rather than downloaded or printed.
UMB’s web templates include built-in accessibility features and generally provide a more seamless and accessible experience than downloadable files.
If you do need to make a document accessible, UMB provides guidance and tools to help faculty and staff create more accessible documents. These resources include built-in accessibility features in Microsoft Office, tools for reviewing and improving PDFs in Adobe Acrobat Pro, and University-supported services that assist with more complex document remediation.
The following are tips to make documents easier to read and navigate for everyone:
- Use proper headings and structure so screen readers can navigate content.
- Add alt text to images and descriptive links so visuals and links are understandable to all users.
- Ensure good color contrast and readable formatting to improve clarity and accessibility.
Learn more about how to create accessible documents on the UMB Digital Accessibility webpage.