Accessibility Review and Readiness Checklist
Use this process to review web pages, One Stop articles, Blackboard content, and attached files so they are accessible to all users, including those using screen readers or keyboard-only navigation. Use the fast review for quick triage and fixes, the full checklist for the end-to-end workflow, and the cheat sheets for step-by-step “how to” tasks by tool and file type.
✅ Fast Review
Rapid checks and fixes you can apply immediately.
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Run quick checks: Use Silktide Toolbar (for web/One Stop) and Blackboard Ally indicators (for courses/files).
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Fix easy wins: Headings in order (H1 → H2 → H3), meaningful alt text, descriptive link text, and sufficient color contrast.
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Media: Turn on captions, attach transcripts for audio-only, avoid autoplay, and add audio description or descriptive narration when visuals convey meaning.
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PDFs: Apply the Four R’s—🗑️ Remove, 🔄 Replace, 🛠️ Remediate, ✅ Get it Right—from the source where possible.
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Graphics: Prefer Adobe Express templates; do not embed critical text inside images. Submit to Marketing for approval when feasible.
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Record & route: Note issues, owners, and due dates; open/attach tickets as needed.
📖 Full Checklist
🧩 View the full review workflow.
1) Intake & Scope
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Identify assets: page/KB URL(s), Blackboard course & content areas, attached files (DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, PDF), media links (YuJa/YouTube/Stream), and graphics sources.
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Confirm owner & timeline: who fixes what by when.
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Baseline: capture Ally score(s) and any blockers (e.g., scanned PDFs, missing captions).
2) Automated Checks & Reports
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Web/One Stop: Scan with Silktide Toolbar (headings, contrast, link text, screen-reader preview).
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Blackboard: Open the Ally Course Accessibility Report; triage red/yellow items.
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PDF: Run Acrobat’s Accessibility Checker; verify tags/reading order.
3) Page / One Stop Content
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Headings: sequential levels; no styling-only headings.
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Alt text: meaningful; decorative images marked decorative.
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Contrast & links: strong color contrast; descriptive link text.
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Attachments: reference in body; ensure files meet their file-type checklist before upload.
4) Attachments by File Type
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Word: styles/heading order, alt text, simple tables, link text; run Word Accessibility Checker.
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PowerPoint: built-in layouts, unique slide titles, reading order, alt text; run checker.
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Excel: descriptive sheet names, A1 summary, real Tables with header row, no merged cells; run checker.
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PDF: prefer exporting tagged PDFs from accessible sources; fix tags/reading order/alt text in Acrobat when necessary.
📌 The Four R’s for PDFs
- 🗑️ Remove outdated, scanned, or unnecessary PDFs.
- 🔄 Replace with permalinks, publisher’s accessible versions, or accessible Word/PPT.
- 🛠️ Remediate only when necessary (Acrobat Pro).
- ✅ Get it Right at the source—create accessible originals.
5) Blackboard (LMS) Content
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Documents: use Title/Header/Sub header styles; avoid ALL CAPS for emphasis.
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Images/links/tables: alt text, descriptive links, simple data tables with headers.
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Attachments: ensure Word/PPT/Excel/PDF meet their checklists before posting.
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Ally: address red/yellow items; recheck score after fixes.
6) Media (Captions, Transcripts, Audio Description)
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YuJa / YouTube / Stream (Clipchamp): enable auto-captions at upload and edit for accuracy; attach transcripts for audio-only.
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Premiere Pro: Transcribe Sequence → Create Captions → export SRT; burn-in only if required (high contrast).
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Audio description: add descriptive narration or a separate AD track when visuals add meaning.
7) Graphics / Design
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Prefer Adobe Express (IT supported) and submit to Marketing for approval.
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Contrast: meet WCAG (≥4.5:1 normal text; ≥3:1 large/bold).
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No text baked into images: put critical text in real text/captions; provide alt text.
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Motion: avoid flashing/busy animations; keep movement minimal.
8) Documentation & Handoff
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Log findings: page/course, owner, issues, screenshots, and links.
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Assign fixes: owners & due dates; include file re-uploads if replaced.
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Verify & close: re-check (Silktide/Ally/Acrobat), capture improved scores, and document resolution.
⚡ Quick Verification
Final checks before you mark the review complete.
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Run automated checks (Silktide / Ally / Acrobat) and resolve flagged issues.
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Confirm headings/titles are descriptive and in logical order.
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Check keyboard navigation/tab or reading order for sensible flow.
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Verify all images/graphics have alt text or are marked decorative.
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Confirm color contrast for text and key visuals.
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Check links are descriptive, active, and accurate.
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Review attachments/media: Word/PPT/Excel/PDF meet checklists; captions/transcripts/AD are present and accurate.
📎 Cheat Sheet Downloads & Related Checklists
Step-by-step guides and KB checklists you can reference during reviews.