2d: Images and other visual elements do not rely solely on color to convey information.

Image Source: WebAIM

Information should not be conveyed by color only. The top calendar image above uses color alone to indicate the "Available" and "Not Available" days. This would be an ineffective way to communicate information to the visually impaired and learners using screen readers. The second calendar image shows what someone with color blindness would see. Again, the "Available" and "Not Available" are not differentiated. When including images, color can be used as a distinguishing feature, but it should also be accompanied with a written description of the information to ensure accessibility.

These 4-Minute Focus Videos from the Reinert Center discuss how and when to successfully incorporate color into your online course materials.

Passing with Flying Colors?

Red Light, Green Light...Go?

How to Check 2d:

Visually inspect documents and Canvas pages.

How to Address 2d:

When creating charts or other graphics, include labels along with the color distinctions. Additionally, when using color, make sure the contrast is sufficient (see 4b). When creating a chart or graph in Excel, search for "accessible templates" to build your content. This ensures appropriate color contrast and labels.

MS Office: Creating Accessible Charts and Tables in Microsoft Office (MSU Denver)
- Excel: Video: Creating More Accessible Tables in Excel, Video: Creating More Accessible Charts in Excel
- PowerPoint: Use an Accessible Presentation Template

Reinert Center Resource Guide:

Designing Visually Accessible Slides

More Resources:

Color Reliance (WebAIM)

Color Usage (University of South Carolina)

Data Visualizations, Charts, and Graphs (Harvard University)