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Accessibility Guidance for Digital Information

This guide presents a variety of information on how to improve accessibility in digital communications and physical spaces.

Introduction

In this guide library staff will find guidance on how to create accessible content and make library spaces accessible to all patrons. 

Link to guidelines: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2

A useful compilation of accessibility strategies: How to Meet WCAG (Quick Reference)

Another important set of accessibility guidelines, drafted for federal agencies: Section 508

Kinds of Disabilities to Consider

What Kinds of Disabilities Can We Accommodate?

Though this is a great oversimplification, disabilities (and hence accessibility issues) can be considered in four categories.

  1. Blindness
  2. Deafness
  3. Cognitive Disabilities
  4. Motor/Movement Impairments

Each of these groups contains many variations; not every disability can be addressed in this or any resource. Of these four types, blindness accounts for 80% of necessary accommodations. The third and fourth categories are the most difficult for us to create accommodations for, but there are some considerations that we can keep in mind while producing library resources.

 

Accessibility Basics to Keep in Mind

Accessible options serve everyone, not just people with disabilities.

Starting with accessibility as a principle is much easier than making things accessible retroactively.

Think about having multiple ways for your audience to get the information you're presenting.

Whenever possible, test the accessibility of your materials.

Color Contrast with Pace Colors

Pace's Brand Standards provide specific guidance on acceptable color combinations that meet contrast compliance standards.

 

Examples of contrast compliant color combinations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more details on using the specific Pace branded colors and contrast compliance, see Pace's online Brand Toolkit. Pace credentials are required to access the Brand Toolkit.