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Scope
This includes content on websites, intranets, wikis, blogs, and other online publishing platforms. Note that online teaching content is covered in section 5.
Publishing tools
All UCL publishing platforms, or third-party platforms delivering UCL material, must enable editors and content creators to deliver fully accessible content.
All staff using these tools to create content should receive relevant training. An outline of what training is available should be provided by the platform owner, service provider or user administrator who grants access to the tool.
PDFs (Portable Document Formats)
While PDFs are viewable without specialist software, they restrict the ability of users to reformat and adapt the content for their needs which is a problem for some disabled people. Therefore, content published on websites should be published as HTML, and not solely in the form of a link to a PDF. Where PDFs are believed to be essential, an alternative format such as HTML or a Microsoft Office format should be made available.
Images
Images and graphics on websites must be accompanied by meaningful text descriptions, for use by visually impaired people who use screen-readers, that explain what the image or graphic depicts. These alternative text descriptions are referred to as ‘alt-text.’ Where images are purely decorative these should be marked as such.
Images should be of good quality and able to be magnified without degradation.
Colour and contrast
Colour contrast is also important. Poor colour choice can make it difficult for some people to see and read text and images. Avoid overlaying text on images.
Social media
It is recommended to provide alt text for images posted to social media. Guidance on enabling this feature is available for Twitter and Instagram:
UCL has published social media guidelines for staff that include accessibility guidance (UCL login required).
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