FSU College of Medicine
Important Notice: Starting April 24, 2026, all digital web content and mobile apps must meet the new digital accessibility criteria outlined in the ADA Title II Web Accessibility Requirements.

Understanding Digital
Accessibility

The Four Principles of Accessibility (POUR)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are built on four key principles, represented by the acronym POUR. All digital content should be:

Source: These principles are based on the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Learn more at W3C WAI Accessibility Principles.

P

Perceivable

Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This means content can't be invisible to all of their senses.

Examples:
  • Provide text alternatives for images
  • Offer captions for videos
  • Ensure sufficient color contrast
O

Operable

User interface components and navigation must be operable. Users must be able to interact with the interface using various input methods.

Examples:
  • Enable keyboard navigation
  • Provide sufficient time to read content
  • Avoid flashing content that could cause seizures
U

Understandable

Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable. Content should be clear and predictable.

Examples:
  • Use clear, simple language
  • Make navigation consistent
  • Provide helpful error messages
R

Robust

Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

Examples:
  • Use valid HTML markup
  • Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies
  • Follow web standards and best practices

Key Accessibility Concepts

Master these essential concepts to create accessible digital content that works for everyone.

01

Alternative Text for Images

Alternative text (alt text) provides a text description of images for people who cannot see them. Screen readers announce this text to users, allowing them to understand the content and function of images.

Best Practices:
  • Describe the content and function concisely
  • Keep alt text under 150 characters when possible
  • Don't start with "image of" or "picture of"
  • For decorative images, use empty alt text (alt="")
  • For complex images, provide detailed descriptions nearby
02

Document Structure and Headings

Proper heading structure creates a logical outline of your document and allows screen reader users to navigate efficiently by jumping between headings.

Heading Hierarchy:
  • H1: Document title (use only once)
  • H2: Major sections
  • H3: Subsections within H2
  • H4-H6: Further nested subsections
Common Mistake: Never skip heading levels (e.g., don't jump from H2 to H4). This creates confusion for screen reader users.
03

Color and Contrast

Many people have difficulty distinguishing between certain colors or perceiving low-contrast text. Proper color contrast ensures content is readable for everyone.

Contrast Requirements:
  • Normal text: 4.5:1 contrast ratio minimum
  • Large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold): 3:1 minimum
  • Never rely on color alone to convey information
  • Use text labels, patterns, or icons with color coding
04

Meaningful Link Text

Link text should clearly describe the destination or purpose of the link. Screen reader users often navigate by links alone, so context is crucial.

Good Examples:
  • "Learn more about WCAG 2.1 guidelines"
  • "View the course syllabus (PDF)"
  • "Download enrollment form"
Avoid These:
  • "Click here" or "Read more"
  • "Download" (without context)
  • Long URLs as link text
05

Table Accessibility

Tables should be used only for tabular data, not for layout purposes. Properly structured tables help screen readers convey relationships between data.

Best Practices:
  • Always designate header rows and/or columns
  • Keep tables simple with a clear structure
  • Avoid merged or split cells when possible
  • Provide a table caption or title
  • Don't use tables for page layout
06

Reading Order

The reading order is the sequence in which content is presented to screen readers. This should match the logical flow of information.

Important: Content that appears logically ordered visually may not be in the correct reading order for assistive technologies. Always check reading order, especially in complex layouts or presentations.
07

Multimedia Accessibility

Audio and video content must be accessible to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have low vision.

Requirements:
  • Provide captions for all video content
  • Include transcripts for audio-only content
  • Add audio descriptions for important visual info
  • Ensure media players have accessible controls
  • Don't autoplay media content
08

Lists and Organization

Using proper list formatting helps organize information and makes it easier for screen readers to announce the structure.

When to Use Lists:
  • Bulleted lists: For unordered items or options
  • Numbered lists: For sequential steps or rankings
  • Definition lists: For terms and definitions
Tip: Don't create "fake" lists by manually adding bullets or numbers. Use your authoring tool's built-in list formatting for proper structure.

Common Assistive Technologies

Understanding the tools people use helps you create better accessible content:

Screen Readers

Software that reads digital content aloud. Common examples: JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack

Screen Magnification

Tools that enlarge portions of the screen. Examples: ZoomText, built-in OS magnifiers

Voice Recognition

Software that allows users to control devices using voice commands. Examples: Dragon NaturallySpeaking, built-in OS voice control

Keyboard Navigation

Many users navigate without a mouse, using keyboard only or alternative input devices



Quick Reference Checklist

Use this checklist when creating digital content:

  • All images have appropriate alternative text
  • Document uses proper heading structure (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
  • Color is not the only means of conveying information
  • Text has sufficient contrast with background
  • Links are descriptive and meaningful
  • Tables have designated header rows/columns
  • Lists use proper formatting (not manual bullets/numbers)
  • Reading order is logical
  • Document language is identified
  • Videos have captions, audio has transcripts

Next Steps

Now that you understand the core concepts, explore our authoring tool guides to learn how to implement these principles: