Working at the ATSSC/General tips and tools/Accessibility
Accessibility, a collective commitment
Our vision at Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada (ATSSC) is to create an inclusive culture where accessibility is integral. We're committed to making our services and proceedings fully accessible to all, regardless of abilities. As part of our dedication to accessibility, ATSSC has implemented a comprehensive accessibility plan that guides our efforts.
This guide aims to empower users with the knowledge and skills to create content that adheres to accessibility best practices. Whether you're sending emails, creating written documents in Word, or designing presentations in PowerPoint, you'll find valuable insights and tips within this document to enhance the accessibility of your materials. By following these recommendations, you can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable digital environment, where information can be effectively and independently accessed by a diverse audience.Accessible Communications Checklist
By following these basic guidelines, you can significantly improve the accessibility of your written messages for a wider audience, including people with disabilities.
✔ Define acronyms: Be sure to detail the meaning of an acronym at length the first time in a text or document before so that you can use it later.
✔ Use a readable font: Choose simple, easy-to-read fonts, such as Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman.
✔ Color contrast: Make sure there is sufficient contrast between the text and the background. High-contrast color combinations, such as black text on a white background, are preferred.
✔ Adequate font size: Use a font size large enough to make the text easy to read. A minimum of 12 points is generally recommended.
✔ Information hierarchy: Organize your content using a clear structure, with headings and subheadings to indicate the hierarchy of information.
✔ Avoid jargon: Limit the use of technical terms or jargon unless you can provide a clear explanation.
✔ Alt text for images: If you include images, graphs, or diagrams, be sure to provide an alt text to allow screen readers to understand the visual content.
✔ Subtitles for video media: If you're sharing videos, make sure they're captioned accurately so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can follow the content.
✔ Plain language: Use clear and plain language. Avoid long and complicated sentences.
✔ Hyperlinks: When including hyperlinks, make sure that the link text is descriptive and clearly indicates the destination of the link. Otherwise, a text reader will read each letter of the link.
Respect the diversity of needs and keep in mind that accessibility needs vary from person to person. Be open to feedback and tailoring your communication to meet specific needs.
Resources on accessibility of documents
General Resources
- Tools and resources - Digital Accessibility Toolkit / Sharing space (canada.ca)
- Microsoft Document Compliance Checklist
- Canadian Style – Plain Language
- Canada.ca Content Style Guide
- Rules for the Accessibility Checker
Emails
Word Documents
- Accessibility Best Practices for Word Documents
- Accessible Word documents - Digital Accessibility Toolkit / Sharing space (canada.ca)
- Make your Word documents accessible
PowerPoint Presentations
- Accessibility Best Practices for PowerPoint
- Accessible PowerPoint presentations - Digital Accessibility Toolkit / Sharing space (canada.ca)
- Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible
Excel Documents
- Accessibility Best Practices for Excel
- Accessible Excel workbooks - Digital Accessibility Toolkit / Sharing space (canada.ca)
- Make your Excel documents accessible
PDF (Portable Document Format)