All public colleges and universities must adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II requirements for digital content. This means that all digital collateral, including emails, syllabi, coursework, and more, must be designed with accessibility in mind. 

Though the deadline for the federal mandate has been extended, an accessible digital footprint is intrinsic to the College of Medicine's mission and values.

Acing Accessibility is a communications series dedicated to delivering you bite-sized accessibility lessons to keep the College of Medicine compliant. Accessibility is everyone's responsibility, and with a few small changes, meeting the digital needs of everyone in our community will be second-nature.

All digital images must include alternative text, more commonly referred to as alt text, to enable screen readers to describe the image to users with visual impairments. Make sure images are described clearly and concisely, focusing on the meaning of the photo (not just its appearance). If there is text in a photo, include it in the alt text. 

All social media sites support alt text capabilities for their posts. 

LinkedIn: After uploading a photo to your post, select 'Alt' underneath the image to enter your alt text.

Facebook: Once you've added your photo, click the 'Edit' button that appears in its top left corner and select 'Alternative Text' from the list of options.

Instagram: For grid posts, add your photo(s) and click Next → from the bottom right. On the share screen, scroll to the bottom and select 'More options'. At the bottom of this menu, select 'Write alt text'. Stories and reels do not yet contain alt text capabilities.

X: Much like Facebook, once you've added your photo, click the 'Edit' button that appears in its top left corner and select 'ALT' from the center list of options.

Whether posting a video to a traditional social media site or hosing a livestream on Youtube, be sure that all videos include captioning and descriptive audio features to aid those with visual or hearing disabilities. 

Video platforms such as Instagram Reels, Youtube, and TikTok feature platform-based captioning options for your posts. While still imperfect, utilize these features whenever possible to provide essential accessibility support to all users.

Images and graphics posted to social media are required to have strong color contrast, such as dark text on a white background. Avoid combinations of bright or similar colors that may make text difficult to read. Tools such as TPGI Color Contrast Checker or WebAIM verify that your color choices meet accessibility standards.

Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning (e.g. using red text to communicate "stop"). Use labels and text in addition to color.

See Instructions for Using the WebAIM Tool for details.

Emojis can make social media posts fun and engaging for users, conveying a casual tone while aiding in storytelling. However, too many emojis can be confusing or frustrating for those using screen readers, since the programs will describe each emoji. Limit overall use to a tasteful amount, and avoid using several in a row.