Color of Text
Color reliance, using hue, shade, tint, or tone as the sole means of conveying information, affects users with color vision deficiency, blindness, and may pose challenges for those with low vision. Blind individuals are inherently color blind, and screen reading software typically doesn't convey colors. Some users with low vision might have difficulty perceiving certain colors and may adjust document colors to enhance visibility based on their preferences.
Three Best Practices
In summary, the top three practices to mitigate color reliance are:
- Organize your content distinctly.
- Include text labels.
- Utilize images with alternative text.
By comprehending the consequences of color-reliant information and adopting these best practices, your documents will be enhanced for users with color vision deficiency, low vision, and blindness.
Tables
A simple, well-designed table can make it much easier to understand complex information.
Watch this video for an overview of Tables
Keeping tables simple ensures accessibility for all users, including those employing screen readers in navigation mode and individuals with neurodiverse conditions (e.g., ADHD, autism, dyslexia).
Avoid posting images of tables, as screen readers may treat them as images, not datasets. Tables should not be used for layout control, as they can disrupt the document or webpage reading order, crucial for screen reader users who rely on sequential information presentation.
A heading preceding a table is a good method for providing users with a description of the table's content.