Accessibility Resources

Use built-in tools to structure your content so it works with screen readers.

• Use Headings Styles (not just bold text)
  • Use them in descending order (H1 → H2 → H3)
• Add ALT Text to Images
• Use Readable Color Contrast
• Export PDFs Properly (not scanned images)

Video content requirements are more complex than ever before—for content we create AND for content created by others that we link to, show in a course, or share on social. Be aware!

• Accurate Captions Required
• Audio Descriptions (or comparable solution in the voice-over itself) Required
• Provide Transcripts When Possible
• Avoid Auto-Play

For Videos Posted BEFORE April 24, 2026

• If the video ONLY lives on YouTube or the native social media platform it was originally posted to, the College is not required to remove or remediate it.
  • As soon as the College posts, requires, links, shares, or distributes that video on any additional channel in any additional way, the video MUST be accessible.

For Videos Posted AFTER April 24, 2026

• All videos posted, required, linked, shared, or distributed on any channel or platform by the College MUST be accessible—including accurate captions and audio descriptions.

Captions

• Captions convey video content in a text format and are synchronized with the video as it plays. Captions make video content searchable and enable interactive video transcripts. Video captions are required to meet accessibility standards. Captioning video content produces a caption file that must be added to the video. Specific steps must be taken to create captions. These steps are unique to authoring tools, and many offer automated captioning tools. It's important to always review and edit captions for accuracy.

Transcripts

• A transcript is a complete text version of the video content. All spoken audio, on-screen text, and descriptions of key visual information should be included in the transcript. During the captioning process, a transcript can also be created, which should then be linked with the video.

Audio Descriptions

• An audio description is a separate audio track that describes visual content not verbally presented in the video. On-screen text, such as the presenter's name and title, is commonly described in an audio description. Audio descriptions can be developed by the content creator or outsourced to a third-party vendor. During the captioning process, a simple audio description text file can also be created and then linked to the video in the authoring tool. The audio file created by the vendor must then be added to the final distribution platform.

When creating online content, in Google Docs, Moodle, Social Media, or other platforms, use these best practices.

• Use Headings in Order (H1 → H2 → H3)
• Write Descriptive Links (avoid click here, learn more, or using the full URL)
• Ensure Images Include ALT Text
• Social Media Account Administrators and Moderators are responsible for the content they post. Additional information and training for Moderators is forthcoming from Strategic Communications.

Accessibility isn’t something we fix later—it’s something we choose upfront.

• Ask for a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template)
• Confirm Compatibility with Screen Readers and Keyboard Navigation
• Loop in Appropriate College Contacts

Before you publish or share, consider these questions.

• Can someone navigate this without a mouse?
• Can a screen reader understand the structure?
• Are images and videos accessible?
• Is the content clear and readable?

If the answer isn’t clear—pause and adjust.

Use Official Checkers

• Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Office products include built-in accessibility checkers, often found under the Review tab. If you cannot locate the accessibility checker, simply type accessibility into the search or help function.
• Google Docs
  • Grackle Docs is a Google Extension that checks your Google document for accessibility issues, explains any errors, and describes how to resolve them.
• PDFs

  • Adobe Acrobat has a built-in accessibility checker. If you need Adobe Acrobat installed on your device, submit a Help Desk Ticket.

    • Click All Tools near the top left of Adobe Acrobat.
    • Click Prepare for Accessibility within the All Tools menu.
    • Select the Check for Accessibility option.
    • The Accessibility Checker Options window opens. Click Start Checking.
    • The Accessibility Checker pane opens on the right, displaying any errors that were found. Expand these sections and right-click on errors to select Explain to learn more about each error and how to fix it.
  • GrackleGo can also be used to check PDFs.
•  Website
  • Strategic Communications utilizes the Hannon Hill Cascade CMS Accessibility tools for midmich.edu. The team also uses DubBot to scan midmich.edu and midmichlakers.com.

You're not expected to do this alone. We're all learning and problem-solving together.

• Leverage Online Resources
• Connect with Internal Teams
  • Moodle | Online & Distance Learning
  • Tech | IT & Procurement
  • Website & Social Media | Strategic Communications

Use these tips to craft solid ALT Text.

• Be descriptive and specific
• Keep it concise, usually 2-4 sentences
• Avoid redundancy and unnecessary phrases (image of)
• Consider the purpose of the image
• Describe the content in the context it is being used

The W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines define specific color contrast ratios that must be met to comply with particular levels. When designing the color scheme for a website, web page, or document, be sure to consider whether there is sufficient contrast between the foreground text and the background. Some users may have difficulty reading text when the contrast between the foreground and background is too low.

Use this tool to check color contrast, select different colors, and determine contrast ratios.

• Visit webaim.org to easily check color contrast.

Review these tips on creating accessible infographics and data visualizations.

• Accessibility.com Blog Article

Learn more about creating accessible documents.

• Review a list of tools, tips, and resources.

Accessibility requirements include content within course shells hosted on the College's Learning Management System, Moodle. This means that faculty must take care when uploading course content to Moodle and ensure it is accessible before doing so.

• Resources coming soon!

In addition to the Digital Accessibility Policy, Mid also has an Online Presence Policy. This policy is designed to ensure compliance, maintain access to, and positively manage the College's online reputation through online accounts and profiles. The policy also includes accessibility guidelines specific to those situations.

Mid will not procure, renew, or license digital products that fail to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. Our procurement process ensures that all hardware and software purchases are vetted for accessibility.

The following resources can assist you in evaluating vendors throughout the procurement process and in ensuring that the required language is included in contracts and agreements.

Questions to Ask

Whether you're developing an RFP or making a smaller purchase, the following six accessibility-related questions should be asked. In addition, the toolkit linked below is a helpful resource.

• Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit (HECVAT)

• Specifically, describe the extent to which your product is accessible to people with disabilities, including people who are blind or have impaired vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have mobility or dexterity limitations, or those with speech impairments.
• If your product is not accessible, describe options to improve its accessibility through modifications, peripherals, or other appropriate add-ons.
• What methods did you use to determine the accessibility of your product or service?
  • Third-Party User Assessment
  • In-House User Assessment
  • Automated Assessment
  • Assessment by Users with Disabilities
  • Other (Explain)
• Provide documentation supporting your accessibility claims.
• To what extent are you willing to work with the College to meet the required accessibility standards?
• If you know of organizations that use your product and prioritize accessibility, provide contact information.

When discussing a potential purchase with a vendor, include questions about the accessibility standards their products meet and the process they use to develop and test for accessibility. For web-based products and software, questions can include the following.

• Do you have clients who require specific accessibility standards? If so, would you be willing to provide client references who can speak to the accessibility of your product?
• What experience do developers on your team have in coding for accessibility?
• What standards are followed for coding of interfaces (if 508, what parts; if WCAG, which level)?
• Do you administer testing for users with disabilities? If so, can you explain the process and, roughly, identify the range of disabilities and the technologies used for access?
• Does your company have an accessibility road map? If so, can you give us a general outline?
• Have you tested and/or developed your mobile apps with accessibility in mind?
• If there are changes that need to be made to web/mobile interfaces/apps, what is our guarantee that these will be implemented to our satisfaction prior to go-live/going forward?
• Would your company indemnify Mid Michigan College against legal action related to accessibility?

Require Specific Information

An initial measure to assess a vendor's accessibility efforts is to require a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT.

A VPAT is a standard form used by federal agencies to ensure that procured information technology meets accessibility requirements.

It is important to understand that receiving a VPAT from a vendor does not guarantee that products are accessible. It is equally imperative to also verify the accessibility through consultation and testing.

Contract Language

Mid’s contracts and grants should contain a provision requiring the contractor or grantee to comply with our Digital Accessibility Policy.

To ensure that the requirements are satisfied, consider including the language below—or substantially similar language—in all electronic information technology, software, and hardware contracts.

• Under this agreement, the Vendor hereby warrants that the products or services to be provided comply with Mid Michigan College’s accessibility requirements. When notified, the Vendor agrees to promptly respond and resolve any complaint regarding accessibility of its products or services. Vendor further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Mid Michigan College and any College entity using the Vendor's products or services from any claim arising out of its failure to comply with the aforesaid requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements shall constitute a breach and be a basis for the termination of this agreement.

If you're an approved Social Media Moderator for Mid Michigan College, you should know that social media posts must be accessible. Use the resource below to learn how to create social media content that meets accessibility standards.

• Accessible Social Website
  • Learn how to create a more inclusive online experience one post at a time.
• Emojipedia
  • Emojipedia lists the official Unicode descriptions for every emoji. This allows content creators to confirm what a screen reader will say and ensure the spoken description matches their intended message.
  • Places emojis at the end of your post
  • Emojis have ALT Text built in
  • Don't use emojis as bullet points
  • Use emojis sparingly
  • Don't use emojis to replace words
• Facebook
  • Explore Facebook's Accessibility Resources.
• Graphics/Images
  • Canva does not make accessible files very easily.
  • Avoid text on graphics/images as much as possible. 
  • If you create a graphic or image with text for social media, you MUST include all text that appears in the graphic or image in the post copy AND in the ALT Text.
• Links & Hashtags
  • Always place links and hashtags at the end of your post
  • Use Pascal or Camel Case for hashtags (YES #MidMovesYou / NO #midmovesyou)
• YouTube
  • Learn how to add captions and edit captions in YouTube.

Review these training resources from other organizations.

• Section508.gov
• International Association of Accessibility Professionals
• Take the #NoMouse Challenge
  • The #NoMouse Challenge is a global effort to raise awareness about accessible web design.

• Video content requirements are more complex than ever before—for content we create AND for content created by others that we link to, show in a course, or share on social. Be aware!

  • Accurate Captions Required
  • Audio Descriptions (or comparable solution in the voice-over itself) Required
  • Provide Transcripts When Possible
  • Avoid Auto-Play

  For Videos Posted BEFORE April 24, 2026

  • If the video ONLY lives on YouTube or the native social media platform it was originally posted to, the College is not required to remove or remediate it.
    • As soon as the College posts, requires, links, shares, or distributes that video on any additional channel in any additional way, the video MUST be accessible.

  For Videos Posted AFTER April 24, 2026

  • All videos posted, required, linked, shared, or distributed on any channel or platform by the College MUST be accessible—including accurate captions and audio descriptions.

  Captions

  • Captions convey video content in a text format and are synchronized with the video as it plays. Captions make video content searchable and enable interactive video transcripts. Video captions are required to meet accessibility standards. Captioning video content produces a caption file that must be added to the video. Specific steps must be taken to create captions. These steps are unique to authoring tools, and many offer automated captioning tools. It's important to always review and edit captions for accuracy.

  Transcripts

  • A transcript is a complete text version of the video content. All spoken audio, on-screen text, and descriptions of key visual information should be included in the transcript. During the captioning process, a transcript can also be created, which should then be linked with the video.

  Audio Descriptions

  • An audio description is a separate audio track that describes visual content not verbally presented in the video. On-screen text, such as the presenter's name and title, is commonly described in an audio description. Audio descriptions can be developed by the content creator or outsourced to a third-party vendor. During the captioning process, a simple audio description text file can also be created and then linked to the video in the authoring tool. The audio file created by the vendor must then be added to the final distribution platform.

Mid Michigan College manages just a few websites, but members of the campus community access many tools via web-based systems.

• For accessibility questions related to midmich.edu or midmichlakers.com, email stratcomm@midmich.edu.
• If you have questions about Moodle, contact Online & Distance Learning at online@midmich.edu.
• If you have questions about another web-based service, contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@midmich.edu.
  • Examples include Self-Service, Google Suite, Mid Mich Email, Software, Papercut, etc.
• Take the #NoMouse Challenge
  • The #NoMouse Challenge is a global effort to raise awareness about accessible web design.

To make the navigation and clarity of content perceivable by all users and the five senses.

• Do images have alternative text or a decorative label?
• Are there images of text that could be avoided?
• Do videos have captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions?
• Is the navigation and reading order logical?
• Does the document avoid using shape, size, color, and location in instructions?
• Does the document meet color contrast standards?
• Does the content scale well for different view settings and devices?

To make content navigation operable by all users.

• Can content be navigated by a keyboard, for users who are unable to use a mouse?
• Does the content avoid styles that flash or flicker?
• Does the document have a clear and concise title that describes its topic or purpose?
• Are headings and sub-headings used appropriately?
• Do links have unique, informative names?

To make content and technology understandable to all users.

• Has the document's language been identified?
• Are interactive elements appropriately labeled and clearly explained?

To make content robust enough that screen reader technology can interpret it correctly.

• Was the document scanned at high resolution?
• Have accessibility guidelines been followed to ensure compliance?