This article, published in 2021, provides an overview of legal requirements for website accessibility in Quebec. In 2024, these requirements were augmented by changes introduced when the was published. For current requirements, view our Make sites accessible webpage.
海角社区 follows the to make its websites accessible to all Internet users. In a nutshell, organizations following this standard must meet level AA compliance of the , with a few exceptions:
- AA criteria 1.2.4 and 1.2.5 are not required
- AAA criteria 2.3.2 and 3.1.4 are required
- Pre-recorded audio can meet 1.2.2 and/or 1.2.6 (but not required to do both)
The easy-to-read compliance checklist below should make these legal standards more understandable to everyday site editors. This checklist is a targeted list of actions that site managers and editors can take to achieve compliance for 海角社区 sites in the WMS platform. (For simplicity's sake, we've excluded聽accessibility mesures that are managed by central Web Services聽in the "backend" or code of the WMS.)
Owners and administrators of virtual host (VHost) websites and 海角社区 sites built on external platforms should consult the to become familiar with the full list of requirements.
Images/graphics
Visual content (uploaded images, graphics, charts, infographics) must:
- Include alt text (WCAG 2.0 1.1.1)
- Avoid colour reliance: do not use colour as the only visual means of communicating information (WCAG 2.0 1.3.1)
- Ensure any text in images meets (WCAG 2.0 1.4.3)
- Use accessible formatting elements, such as blocks or Big Numbers instead of uploading images of text (WCAG 1.4.5)
Video/audio
- Include an alternative when uploading audio-only or video-only multimedia (WCAG 2.0 1.2)
- Example: Podcast uploaded alongside a transcript
- Example: Videos without audio include a caption that describes what is happening
- Provide captions (WCAG 1.2.2) OR sign language interpretation in LSQ (langue des signes qu茅b茅coise) for all pre-recorded audio content (WCAG 1.2.6)
- Example: Recording of a public lecture series is uploaded with captioning available
- Include an alternative or audio description for all pre-recorded time-based media is (1.2.3)
- Example: Providing an alternative audio track that includes audio descriptions
- Example: s include static text describing visual content
- Avoid content that flashes more than 3 times per second (WCAG 2.3.1)
Text content/formatting
- Use proper headings (heading 2, heading 3, etc.) to structure your content (WCAG 2.0 1.3.1)
- Use the list function in the WYSIWYG editor to structure lists (WCAG 2.0 1.3.1)
- Format tables with proper row and column headers (WCAG 2.0 1.3.1)
- Use blocks and other pre-set features (e.g. call-to-action buttons) as they're intended to create attractive layouts. Websites can be both attractive and accessible, so there's no need to improvise with features or聽use images to represent buttons and layouts.
- Ensure all (WCAG 1.4.5)
- Use web page titles that describe the topic or purpose of the page (WCAG 2.4.2)
- Use section headings聽that describe the topic or purpose of the section (WCAG 2.0 2.4.6)
- Verify that links are descriptive: the hyperlinked text describes where the link is taking the user (WCAG 2.4.4)
- E.g.: Avoid 鈥渃lick here鈥� hyperlinked text
For additional information and resources, visit our Digital standards: Make sites accessible web page.
Rachel Desjourdy is the Accessibility Advisor in the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). She is available to support the 海角社区 community in becoming more inclusive and accessible.
Update June 2021: Unfortunately for us, Rachel has moved to a position at another company. We congratulate her and wish her all the best with her future endeavours! We expect announcements about 海角社区's new Accessibility Advisor will be shared in the near future.
