Digital Content Accessibility Policy

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Last Updated: Jul 16, 2026, 10:47 AM

All digital content should be created so that every user can access, read, understand, and use it. This includes content posted on websites, shared on social media, or attached to emails.

As a best practice, important information should not be shared as a file such as PDF, flyer image, JPEG, PNG, or graphic with words embedded in the image, etc. These formats can create barriers for people who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, text resizing, translation tools, mobile devices, or other assistive technology.

WCAG 2.2 states that digital content should be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. It also requires text alternatives for non-text content and recommends that content be adaptable, so it can be presented in different ways without losing meaning.

SIU Standard Practice

  • Email: Make sure all the crucial information is conveyed through in-line text, and link to a webpage with more information and photos.
  • Social: Prioritize readable text in the body of every post. Use images and video as supporting elements, not the primary carriers of information. All images must include descriptive alt text. Captions are required for video content.
  • Web: Include all information on the webpage. That means there should not be links to PDFs with important information. A webpage should also not be a repository for downloadable content.

Policy

Digital content creators should avoid posting or distributing PDFs, JPEGs, PNGs or other image-based files digitally. PDFs are for printing purposes.

When sharing event details, announcements, instructions, deadlines, forms or other information:

  • Put the essential information on a webpage and share that url/link in a social post or email.
  • Do not use JPEGs or PNGs with embedded words as the only way to communicate information.
  • Add meaningful alt text for images, but do not rely on alt text to replace large amounts of text.
  • Make links, dates, locations, contact information and calls to action readable outside of the image or attachment.
  • Check to ensure content works as intended on mobile devices and with assistive technology.

Learn more about digital accessibility and why it matters.