Web Accessibility

Creating accessible websites ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access and use Tulane's digital content. Accessibility is not only a technical requirement. It is a core part of providing a welcoming experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and community members.

An accessible website helps ensure that all users can find information, complete tasks and engage with the university regardless of their abilities or the technology they use.

Accessibility benefits everyone. Clear organization, descriptive links, readable content and mobile-friendly designs improve the experience for all visitors, not just those using assistive technologies.

Accessibility is everyone's responsibility.

While Tulane's web platform includes accessibility features by default, content editors are responsible for ensuring that the text, images, documents, videos and other materials they publish remain accessible to all users.

What is web accessibility?

Web accessibility is the practice of designing and maintaining websites so that people with a wide range of abilities can successfully access information and complete tasks online.

Accessible websites support users who:

  • Use screen readers or other assistive technologies
  • Navigate with a keyboard instead of a mouse
  • Have low vision or color blindness
  • Are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Have cognitive, learning or neurological disabilities
  • Access websites on mobile devices or in challenging environments

Accessibility is an ongoing responsibility. Every piece of content added to a website can either improve or reduce accessibility.

Accessibility standards at Tulane

Most accessibility standards for websites are based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

WCAG provides internationally recognized recommendations for making web content more accessible. The guidelines are organized around four core principles. Content should be:

  • Perceivable – users must be able to perceive the information being presented.
  • Operable – users must be able to navigate and interact with the interface.
  • Understandable – content and functionality should be clear and predictable.
  • Robust – content should work with a variety of browsers, devices, and assistive technologies.

For Tulane university websites, the goal is to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards.

Learn more:

Accessibility best practices for Drupal content

Provide meaningful alternative text for images

When uploading images to the Media Library, include alternative text that communicates the purpose or meaning of the image.

Good alternative text focuses on the information the image provides, not simply what it looks like.

Write descriptive link text

Avoid generic phrases such as "Click here," "Learn more" or "Read more." Link text should clearly communicate the destination or action users can expect.

Instead of "Click here for application requirements."

Use "View undergraduate application requirements."

Descriptive links help screen reader users understand page content and improve usability for all visitors.

Use a logical heading structure

Headings help users understand content organization and navigate pages efficiently.

General recommendations:

  • The page title should be the only Heading 1 (H1).
  • Major sections should use Heading 2 (H2).
  • Subsections should follow a logical hierarchy using Heading 3 (H3), Heading 4 (H4), and so on.
  • Do not skip heading levels.
  • Do not use bold text in place of headings.

A clear heading structure benefits both accessibility and search engine optimization.

Avoid images that contain text

Essential information should be presented as real text on the page. Text embedded within images:

  • Cannot be resized easily or adjusted
  • May not be readable by assistive technology
  • Can become difficult to read on small screens

Alternative text is not a sufficient replacement for text in an image. Keep in mind that some users will not see the alternative text if the image loads on the page, and they may not be able to read text in an image.

Use Theme Styles and Formatting

Tulane's Drupal theme has been designed with accessibility in mind. To maintain accessibility:

  • Use the heading styles available in the editor
  • Use lists for list content
  • Use tables only for tabular data, not for page layout
  • Avoid manually changing text colors, font sizes or other presentation styles
  • Follow the formatting options provided by the Drupal editor

Using the default theme styles helps ensure sufficient contrast, consistent presentation and compatibility with future accessibility improvements. Keep in mind that although you may view your website as a standalone site, the majority of our web audience will interact with multiple Tulane Drupal sites. Maintaining consistent structure across sites is critical for accessibility.

Make linked documents accessible

Accessibility extends beyond webpages. Before uploading PDFs or other files, ensure they are accessible and properly structured. Whenever possible, consider presenting information directly on a webpage rather than only within a document.

Accessibility testing

Tulane uses accessibility testing tools, including DubBot, to help identify accessibility concerns. Automated tools are valuable for finding common issues, but they cannot detect every accessibility problem. Content editors should review pages manually and consider how users with assistive technologies will experience the content.