{"id":485,"date":"2026-02-17T23:33:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T04:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/?page_id=485"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:23:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T18:23:11","slug":"fundamentals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/fundamentals\/","title":{"rendered":"Fundamentals for Content Creators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><style>\r\nli.checklist {\r\n  list-style: none;\r\n  padding: 0px 25px 25px 40px; \/* Adjust padding for spacing *\/\r\n  background-image: url(\"http:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/square-check-box-40x40-1.png\");\r\n  background-repeat: no-repeat;\r\n  background-position: left top;\r\n  background-size: 25px 25px; \/* Adjust size as needed *\/\r\n  font-size: 1.3em!important;\r\n}\r\n\r\n<\/style><\/p>\n<h2>What Is Digital Accessibility?<\/h2>\n<p>Digital accessibility means designing websites, documents, emails, and online content so that everyone can use them. This includes people with disabilities, who:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use screen readers<\/li>\n<li>Navigate by keyboard instead of a mouse<\/li>\n<li>Have low vision or color blindness<\/li>\n<li>Are deaf or hard of hearing<\/li>\n<li>Have mobility or cognitive disabilities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Accessibility ensures that all members of our community can access information, complete tasks, and fully participate online.<\/p>\n<div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>Why Accessibility Matters<\/h2>\n<p>Accessibility is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Inclusive.<\/strong> It ensures equal access to information and services.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Required.<\/strong> Colleges and universities must provide accessible digital content under federal law.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Better for Everyone.<\/strong> Accessible content is:\n<ul>\n<li>Easier to read<\/li>\n<li>Easier to navigate<\/li>\n<li>Clearer and more organized<\/li>\n<li>More mobile-friendly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When content is accessible, it improves the experience for all users.<\/p>\n<div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>Basic Accessibility Checklist<\/h2>\n<p>Below are 10 Accessibility Rules for content to ensure your webpages, PDFs, emails, and digital flyers are fully compliant.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Use live text, not images of text<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/web\/?flyers=open\">Skip the image-only flyers<\/a>. Instead, ensure all details are written out as live text on your webpage, email, or document to remain accessible.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use headings to organize content<br \/>\n<\/strong>Use built-in heading styles (like H1, H2, H3) rather than simply bolding text. Proper heading tags create a logical outline that allows screen reader users to navigate your page.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create descriptive, meaningful link text<br \/>\n<\/strong>Instead of vague phrases like \u201cclick here\u201d or \u201cread more,\u201d use text that clearly explains the destination or action, such as \u201cApply for Scholarships.\u201d This allows screen reader users to understand the link&#8217;s purpose out of context and ensures everyone knows exactly what will happen when they click.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add meaningful alt text for images<br \/>\n<\/strong>Avoid generic filenames and instead provide a brief description that explains the image&#8217;s specific purpose or the message it is intended to convey. If an image is purely ornamental and adds no meaningful information to the page, you should leave the descriptive field blank or mark as decorative if an application allows that. This designates the image as decorative, allowing screen readers to skip it and ensuring a more efficient experience for your users.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Write clearly and keep content simple<br \/>\n<\/strong>Write in plain language with short paragraphs and lists to make your content easy to scan. By avoiding technical lingo and complex sentences, you ensure your message is accessible to everyone, including non-native speakers and people with cognitive disabilities. For lists, <strong>use bullet\/number tools<\/strong>; don\u2019t type dashes manually.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make PDFs and documents accessible<br \/>\n<\/strong>Avoid &#8220;scanned&#8221; image-only PDFs, which are invisible to screen readers and impossible to search. Instead, export documents from sources like Word or InDesign as tagged PDFs to preserve a logical reading order, headings, and digital text. Learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/files\/?pdf=open\">create accessible PDFs<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Provide accurate captions and transcripts for video content<br \/>\n<\/strong>All videos, recorded and live, featuring speech must include synchronized captions to assist users who are deaf or hard of hearing. For longer media, providing a full text transcript is recommended to improve navigation and allow users to consume the content at their own pace.\u00a0Learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/videos\/\">create accessible videos<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ensure forms are fully keyboard-navigable<br \/>\n<\/strong>Design forms so that every field, checkbox, and button can be reached and activated using only the &#8220;Tab&#8221; and &#8220;Enter&#8221; keys. Each input must also have a clear, programmatically linked label so users\u2014especially those with motor disabilities or visual impairments\u2014can navigate without a mouse. Learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/creating-accessible-forms\/\">create accessible forms<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintain high color contrast for readability<br \/>\n<\/strong>Ensure there is a strong visual distinction between text (or buttons) and their background. Using high-contrast color combinations ensures your content remains legible for individuals with low vision, color blindness, or those viewing screens in bright sunlight. Always <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/brand\/web-digital\/\">use Ramapo College&#8217;s approved, accessible brand colors<\/a> for maximum readability.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t rely on color alone<br \/>\n<\/strong>Never rely exclusively on color to convey meaning or instructions. Instead, pair color with a secondary indicator\u2014like text labels, icons, or patterns\u2014to ensure the information is clear to users who are colorblind or have low vision. For example, if a field is required, use an asterisk instead of signaling the requirement by color alone (such as red): <span style=\"color: #800000;\">Required*<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"infoBox col-sm-12 col-lg-12  maroonBox\"><div class=\"boxTitle\" style=\"padding: 1%;\">Before You Publish<\/div><div class=\"boxContent\" style=\"padding: 1%;\">\n<ol>\n<li class=\"checklist\"><strong>Can content be understood without images?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"checklist\"><strong>Are headings used correctly?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"checklist\"><strong>Are links meaningful on their own?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"checklist\"><strong>Are documents and videos accessible?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>What Content Needs to Conform with WCAG Guidelines?<\/h2>\n<p>The scope of content that needs to conform to WCAG guidelines ultimately depends on your organization\u2019s legal obligations (e.g., organization type, funding and contracts, geographic location, etc.), but here are the general categories:<\/p>\n<h3>Always required:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Main website pages, including homepages, product\/service pages, and contact information.<\/li>\n<li>Online applications and forms, like registration, checkout, and contract forms.<\/li>\n<li>Mobile applications that provide the same services as your website.<\/li>\n<li>Customer-facing portals, such as account dashboards or self-service tools.<\/li>\n<li>Digital documents linked from your website (PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, PowerPoints, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Usually required:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Employee-facing systems and intranets as required by employment accessibility laws.<\/li>\n<li>Marketing emails and digital communications.<\/li>\n<li>Social media you control\/post directly.<\/li>\n<li>Video and audio content that requires captions, transcripts, or audio descriptions.<\/li>\n<li>Third-party integrations, such as chatbots, payment systems, or other embedded content.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>May be exempt or have modified requirements:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Archived content that\u2019s no longer updated (courts typically allow reasonable timelines surrounding this type of content).<\/li>\n<li>Pre-existing documents; however, these may require accessible alternatives rather than full remediation.<\/li>\n<li>Live streaming content has different requirements than pre-recorded content.<\/li>\n<li>The bottom line: If users need content to access your goods, services, or employment opportunities, it likely needs to be accessible. Best practice is to err on the side of accessibility and inclusion rather than exclusion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Reference: AudioEye. (2026). WCAG: The international standard for compliance. Digital accessibility and compliance laws. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audioeye.com\/courses\/digital-accessibility-and-compliance-laws\/chapter-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.audioeye.com\/courses\/digital-accessibility-and-compliance-laws\/chapter-2\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"divider\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/rcnjrd\/images\/icons\/ramapo-arch-icom_rule.png\" alt=\"Ramapo\" \/><\/div>\n<h2>Digital Accessibility Skill-Building<\/h2>\n<div class=\"row colSet\">\n<div class=\"sColumn col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-3\">\n\n<div class=\"infoBox col-sm-12 col-lg-12  whiteBox\"><div class=\"boxTitle\" style=\"padding: 5%;\">By File Type<\/div><div class=\"boxContent\" style=\"padding: 5%;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/content-by-type\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-371\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icons-filetype-300x237.png\" alt=\"icons filetype - webpage, document, video, email\" width=\"99\" height=\"78\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icons-filetype-300x237.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icons-filetype.png 747w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 99px) 100vw, 99px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"sColumn col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-3\">\n\n<div class=\"infoBox col-sm-12 col-lg-12  whiteBox\"><div class=\"boxTitle\" style=\"padding: 5%;\">By Role<\/div><div class=\"boxContent\" style=\"padding: 5%;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/content-by-role\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-367\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icons-role-1-300x241.png\" alt=\"icons role - writer, instructor, designer, developer, manager\" width=\"100\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icons-role-1-300x241.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icons-role-1-768x617.png 768w, https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icons-role-1.png 803w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"sColumn col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-3\">\n\n<div class=\"infoBox col-sm-12 col-lg-12  whiteBox\"><div class=\"boxTitle\" style=\"padding: 5%;\">Self-Paced Training<\/div><div class=\"boxContent\" style=\"padding: 5%;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/self-paced-training\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-385\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icon-self-paced-training-300x287.png\" alt=\"icon self paced training\" width=\"83\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icon-self-paced-training-300x287.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icon-self-paced-training.png 622w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 83px) 100vw, 83px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"sColumn col-sm-12 col-md-12 col-lg-3\">\n\n<div class=\"infoBox col-sm-12 col-lg-12  whiteBox\"><div class=\"boxTitle\" style=\"padding: 5%;\">Live Training<\/div><div class=\"boxContent\" style=\"padding: 5%;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/live-training\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-384\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icon-live-training-300x240.png\" alt=\"icon live training\" width=\"100\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icon-live-training-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2026\/02\/icon-live-training.png 751w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is Digital Accessibility? Digital accessibility means designing websites, documents, emails, and online content so that everyone can use them. This includes people with disabilities, who: Use screen readers Navigate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1011,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-485","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.5 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fundamentals for Content Creators - Digital Accessibility at Ramapo College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/digital-accessibility\/fundamentals\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fundamentals for Content Creators\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What Is Digital Accessibility? 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