Essential Web Accessibility Guidelines
Cabinet-Approved Guidelines For LBCC Web Content Contributors

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3D Isometric Flat Vector Illustration of WCAG Standards

About the New ADA Title II Rule

Under updated ADA Title II requirements, public institutions must ensure that web content is accessible. The compliance deadline has been extended from April 24, 2026, to April 26, 2027. LBCC is taking a phased approach to meet this requirement, with additional guidance to be shared as it becomes available.

Compliance Standard: All digital content and mobile apps must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards per federal ADA Title II requirements. Learn more in the DOJ ADA Title II Web Accessibility Rule Summary.

What This Means for You

(Now through April 26, 2027) Accessibility ensures that all users—including individuals with disabilities—can access and use web content. As a content contributor, you play an important role in making LBCC’s website accessible.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Follow Guidelines: Apply accessibility standards to all new or updated content.
  • Prevent Barriers: Avoid introducing new digital accessibility barriers.
  • Phased Upgrades: Enhance existing content progressively over time.

​Accessibility is a shared responsibility across departments.

Accessibility Guidelines for LBCC Web CMS Users

Use Headings to Organize/Structure Your Content

Because our CMS (Digital Deployment powered by Drupal) automatically assigns H1 to the page title and H2 to section titles, content authors should begin their custom headings at H3 and follow a sequential order.

  • Use built-in heading styles such as H3 and H4, H5, H6 to organize content clearly
  • Do not skip heading levels (for example, do not jump from H3 to H5)
  • Do not use bold text as a substitute for headings
  • Use headings to separate topics and improve readability

Headings make your page easier to read and navigate.

Create Webpages, NOT PDFs

  • Do not upload PDFs as your main content
  • Add your content directly into the CMS as a webpage

PDFs should only be used when necessary, such as for:

  • Forms
  • Legal or signed documents

If content can be a webpage, it should be a webpage, not a PDF.

PDF Accessibility Requirements

If a PDF must be used, it should be created and checked for accessibility before it is submitted or posted to the website.

PDF Remediation: Export Tagged PDFs—Do Not “Print to PDF”

Begin with an accessible source document in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Excel, or PowerPoint. Then export or save it as a tagged PDF to preserve accessibility features. Avoid using “Print to PDF,” as this can remove tags and other accessibility information.

Before submitting a PDF, please check that the document includes:

  • Proper headings and structure (title, sub-title, H1>H2>H3>H4>H5)
  • Clear, readable font type and size
  • Strong color contrast
  • Alt text for meaningful images
  • Correct reading order
  • Descriptive links
  • Accessible tables, if tables are used
  • Fillable form fields, if the PDF is a form

Some helpful tools include:

  • Microsoft Accessibility Checker for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
  • WebAIM Contrast Checker for checking text and background color contrast
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro for PDFs (License Needed)

These tools can help identify common accessibility issues, but files should still be reviewed carefully before being posted online.

NOTE: Whenever possible, use an HTML page instead of a PDF.

Add Alt Text to Images

Provide a clear description for all meaningful images. 

  • Add alt text to images that contain important information: describe what the image shows or its purpose
  • Decorative images do not need alt text

Alt text helps users understand images when they can not see them.

Infographics

If your page includes an infographic, flyer, chart, timeline, or other image containing important information:

  • Make sure the same information is also written as text on the page

If users cannot see the image, they should still be able to access the information.

Bad example:
An image includes dates, steps, or instructions, but no text version is provided on the page.

Good example:
An infographic is used as a visual aid, and all key information is also written in text below it.

Best practice:
If an image contains important information, that same information should also be available as text on the page.

Use Clear Link Text

Use link text that clearly describes where the link goes.

  • Avoid: ”Click here”
  • Use instead: “Apply for Financial Aid”, “View Class Schedule”, “Visit the Counseling Office”

This helps all users understand the purpose of the link. Links should clearly tell users where they are going, what to expect.

Make Videos Accessible

Videos should be accessible to all users.

  • Add captions to videos
  • Include descriptions if needed

This helps users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Keep Content Clear and Structured – Easy to Read

Write content in a way that is easy to scan and understand.

  • Use short paragraphs
  • Break content into sections
  • Use bullet points when helpful

Tables (if used):

  • Use tables only for data (not for layout)
  • Include a header row to label columns
  • Keep tables simple and easy to read

Simple, well-structured content is easier to read and helps all users navigate your page.

Pre-Publishing CMS Checklist

Before submit for publishing, confirm that:

  • Headings are used correctly (title, sub-title, H1>H2>H3>H4>H5)
  • Create web content directly on the page instead of linking to PDFs whenever feasible (HTML-First Approach)
  • If your page includes images, provide descriptive, meaningful alt text
  • Infographic content is also available as text
  • Links are descriptive
  • Videos include captions when applicable

Quick Rule to Remember

If someone cannot see or hear your content, they should still be able to understand it.

Important Note:

These guidelines are here to help you easily build accessible pages in the CMS, because accessibility is a shared team effort across our entire campus. Our digital accessibility workgroup is currently working behind the scenes on broader college-wide standards and compliance frameworks—stay tuned for updates as that work continues!

Training and Resources

Additional training and guidance will be shared as campus-wide accessibility efforts continue to develop.

To get support: