Summary
This article provides accessibility guidelines for creating emails and digital newsletters that comply with the ADA, focusing on the use of alt text and avoiding text-heavy images. It also highlights built-in tools in platforms like Outlook, SharePoint, and Beefree to help identify and fix accessibility issues.
Body
Overview
This article outlines guidelines for employees to ensure accessibility in emails and digital newsletters in compliance with the ADA. It covers the importance of using alt text for images, avoiding text-heavy images, and utilizing built-in tools in various apps to check and improve accessibility.
Guidelines
All digital content at the university must be accessible by law under the Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All email and digital newsletter content created in Microsoft Outlook (MavMAIL), Beefree, Microsoft SharePoint (The Fountain), or other sources should follow these guidelines:
- Include appropriate alternative text (alt text) on all images.
- Avoid using text heavy images.
- For example: Screenshots or images of PDFs or flyers that cannot be read by screen readers.
Helpful Tools
Many apps have tools built in to help make content accessible.
Beefree (email design platform)
- Smart Check scans content and finds accessibility issues, like missing alt text.
- automatically writes alt text for images. Note: Be sure to check the accuracy of any AI generated content before publishing.
Microsoft Outlook (MavMAIL) and SharePoint (The Fountain)
More Resources
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