• headings are used to denote sections

• rich text numbered list used for numbered sequences

• rich text bullets used for a list with two or more items

• no underlined text except for links

• color may not be the only way to emphasize text

• text has sufficient color contrast to background

• content is readable at 200% magnification

• default font and link settings are not changed

Screen readers navigate through a webpage via the page headers.  The headers allow a screen reader user to "scan" a page as a sighted user would.  For this reason, use headers appropriately throughout the webpage.  Proper header use is the same as an APA document.Do not use headers to change the look of a standard font. This is not appropriate use of a header. Don't jump heading levels, for instance going from H2 to an H4 without an H3.

Heading 1(H1): Webpage Title

Heading 2 (H2): Box Title 

Heading 3 (H3): Box Section

Heading 4 (H4): Box Sub-section

Do not use bold text to denote section breaks; use the appropriate H3 or H4 heading

In Academicguides.waldenu.edu, do not change the font color or other settings for the headings. The system settings control the look of the header.

Additional heading examples

Heading Standards

• WCAG: Guideline 1.3.1
• WCAG: Info and Relationships: Understanding SC 1.3.1
• WCAG: Guideline 2.4
• WCAG: Headings and Labels: Understanding SC 2.4.6

When you interrupt a numbered list with text or images, most rich text editors will restart the next item with number one. To fix this in LibGuides, right-click on the list to see the numbered list properties. You can adjust the start number here.

Numbered List Standards

• WCAG: Guideline 1.3
• WCAG: Info and Relationships: Understanding SC 1.3.1

Any list of two or more items must use bullets.

For screen readers to identify a bulleted list, you must use the rich text bullet list for any bullets. Do not "fake" a bulleted list with dashes, hyphens, asterisks, or any other character.

Bullet list examples

For those who cannot perceive differences in color, color may not be the only way to emphasize text.  In addition to color, use bold or italics to emphasize text.

Note: Underlined text is reserved for identifying links. Do not underline text to emphasize it.

For example

Bad: Draco Malfoy

Bad: Dolores Umbridge

Good: Hermione Granger

Good: Dobby

Use of Color Standards

• WCAG: Guideline 1.4.1
• WCAG: Use of Color: Understanding SC 1.4.1

Text must have a contrast ratio of at least 7:1 from the background color.  This includes text on images and the contrast between text and highlight colors.

Use a color contrast checker such as the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker to determine sufficient contrast.  The contrast must meet AAA standards for its size (normal or large).

Color Contrast Examples

Color Contrast Standards

• WCAG: Guideline 1.4.3

• WCAG: Contrast (Minimum): Understanding SC 1.4.3

The layout and structure of the page must be intuitive at 200% magnification.  In Springshare products, this level of magnification moves the page to the mobile layout.  

Content must be readable at 200% magnification, including text on images.

Text Magnification Standards

• WCAG: Guideline 1.4.4

• WCAG: Resize text: Understanding SC 1.4.4

The system code controls the font. Do not use the font drop-down to change the font type and do not manually change the look of links, including adding underlines or changing the text color.

If you copy text from another source, you may copy over font formatting along with the text.  Whenever you copy/paste from another source, use the "Remove Format" tool to remove all copied formatting. 

Note: The font style, along with the rest of the system look, does not apply to the guide creation/edit pages and backend. 

Underlined text is reserved for links.  To avoid confusion, no text may be underlined except links and as required by APA citation rules.

Do not manually change the look of links, including adding underlines or changing the text color.  The link look is controlled at the system level.