We encourage all VCSU employees to follow accessibility best practices to support a digital environment that is usable, inclusive, and welcoming to everyone. Explore the resources below to grow your accessibility skills, whether you're new to the topic or ready to deepen your knowledge.

Core Topics

VCSU has identified key accessibility topics to help create inclusive digital content.

• Overview of Core Topics
• Alt (alternative) Text
• Document Structure
• Captioning and Transcripts
• Color Contrast
• Download and print the Core Topics Quick Tips.pdf

Tools

Tools and software approved by VCSU to create accessible content.

• VCSU Ally Toolkit

Passport Experience

The Passport Experience offers interactive simulations that show how people with disabilities navigate digital content.

• Vision Passport: Simulating vision impairments.
• Hearing Passport: Understanding challenges for users with hearing impairments.
• Learning Difficulty Disorder: Navigating digital content with cognitive impairments.

Training

Web Accessibility

It’s important to learn what accessibility means, why it matters, and how it benefits everyone. Once you understand the basics, you’ll be ready to commit to inclusive design and start building with accessibility in mind.

• WebAIM: Introduction to Web Accessibility
• GSA: Accessibility Bytes Series

Alternative Text

Alt text provides a brief, meaningful description of images so users who can’t see them understand their purpose or content.

• WebAIM: Adding Alt Text
• GSA Accessibility Bytes: Alt Text
• Add Alt Text to Images in Blackboard
• Add Alt Text to Images in One Stop

Document Structure

Use clear, logical document structure with proper headings, lists, and reading order to help all users navigate and understand content easily.

• WebAIM: Headings
• GSA Accessibility Bytes: Document Headings
• Using Built-in Styles in Blackboard
• Using Built-in Styles in One Stop

Video Captions and Text Transcriptions

Captions and transcripts enhance accessibility for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• WebAIM: Captions and Transcripts
• GSA: Creating Accessible Media
• Blackboard Caption Video Content
• One Stop: coming soon!

Color and Contrast

Text and background colors must have sufficient contrast to be readable by all users.

• WebAIM: Contrast and Color Accessibility
• GSA Accessibility Bytes: Color Contrast
• Fix Text Contrast in Blackboard
• Check Contrast in One Stop with Silktide

Microsoft Office Accessibility Training

• GSA Microsoft Office Video Series: Create Accessible Digital Products

Adobe Pro Training: in progress!

• GSA: PDF Authoring Guides
• GSA: How to Test and Remediate PDFs for Accessibility Using Adobe Acrobat DC
• PDF Testing Guide

Check out this quick video from Silktide for a beginner-friendly overview of WCAG:

For more information on digital accessibility, contact:

Debbie Dramstad

Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC)

Web Accessibility and Application Specialist | VCSU Technology Services

debra.dramstad@vcsu.edu