Checklist for Evaluating Accessibility of Digital Content

Evaluate your digital content using this accessibility-focused checklist. For information on accessibility and remediation of content visit the Accessibility section.

1. Initial Accessibility Check

• Run an accessibility checker to identify errors (tutorials for each are linked below):
  • PopeTech or Canvas Accessibility Checker for Canvas Pages
  • WAVE for web-based materials
  • Microsoft Word and PowerPoint Accessibility Checker
  • GrackleDocs for Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro Accessibility Checker for PDFs

2. Structure & Organization

• Ensure sections have clear headings and logical organization
• Use numbered (ordered) or bulleted (unordered) lists appropriately
• Use tables only for comparing data, not for layout purposes
• Include table captions and properly formatted table headers

3. Links & Navigation

• Ensure links are descriptive and accurately hyperlinked

4. Images & Alternative Text

• Mark decorative images appropriately
• Provide Alt Text, long descriptions, or captions for meaningful images
• Ensure Alt Text accurately represents the image’s key information
• Keep Alt Text concise (125-150 characters)

5. Color & Design

• Ensure color is not the only means of conveying meaning (use patterns, shapes, etc.)
• Check color contrast using a contrast checker (e.g., WebAIM Color Contrast Checker or TPGi Color Contrast Analyzer)
• Meet at least Level AA contrast requirements for normal and large text

6. Video & Audio Accessibility

• Ensure videos are accurately captioned
• Audio files should have transcripts

7. Alternate Access Plan

• Ensure an alternate access plan to accommodate students who may run into trouble due to any of the above items not being complete.
• Any third-party technologies that students are expected to use in the course are accessible to folks with disabilities. (Technologies supported by MiraCosta should be accessible to most or all students. If you are using other technologies, it is your responsibility to verify accessibility.)

This checklist is adapted from the SLIDE Protocol from CAST and Characteristics of Accessibility Tools created by Joanna Schimizzi ISKME.