Word and PDF Figure Accessibility

Hi,

Because of a regulation that was passed a couple years ago in California, all state agencies must certify that their websites conform to the WCAG accessibility requirements. These state agencies post many documents online and must also certify that the documents comply with WCAG. I don't know how many out there work to make Word and PDF files WCAG-compliant, but there are definitely gaps between WCAG's instructions for websites and what we must glean for document accessibility. In my opinion, one of those gaps deals with the color contrast requirement for graphics. Success Criterion 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast states, "The visual presentation of the following [must] have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent colors." The part that presents difficulty is, "Parts of graphics required to understand the content, except when a particular presentation of graphics is essential to the information being conveyed."

First, I don't know that I even fully understand that last part. It sounds like graphics must meet the ratio unless they're important. This doesn't sound logical, but I'm sure I'm wrong.

Second, I work for a consulting firm that authors environmental studies that contain many figures, such as geological maps, that have no chance of passing the 3:1 contrast ratio because there are just too many colors needed to convey the information. On most occasions, the colors of rivers, counties, towns, study areas, and zones appear as granular shards and slivers of color. There is just no practical way to ensure every single color passes the contrast ratio against every other single color that it comes into contact with. I believe most agencies are now starting to confront this problem and have no idea what to do. On one hand, WCAG was not meant to reduce functionality or readability for fully sighted readers. On the other hand, taking the color out of the maps or only using colors that meet the contrast ratio will render these figures almost useless. Further, replacing the slivers of color with 20 or 30 different patterns makes the map unreadable.

I believe we have a solution, but I'd like to get WCAG's blessing. Otherwise, no agency in California is going to know how to deal with this issue and will most likely fail to do anything.  My solution is simple. I think we should insert what amounts to a text box in a corner of these figures that references a section in the document in which low-vision readers can read the very alternative text we provide to non-sighted readers. Making this alternative text description available to low-vision readers will allow us to maintain the usefulness of these very complex figures and supplement what low-vision readers take away from these figures. I think this is the best of both worlds and would like to hear your thoughts.

Thank you so much for reading through such a long message.

Dennis

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DENNIS JOHNSON | Editor and Accessibility Compliance Specialist
916.231.9568 direct |  dennis.johnson@icf.com<mailto:kendal.hicks@icf.com> | icf.com<http://www.icfi.com/>
ICF | 980 9th Street, Suite 1200,Sacramento, CA 95814 USA


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