Submitting Your Work to Digital Collections

Starting Spring 2026, all documents uploaded to the OHSU Digital Collections must meet:

• WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
• Title II of the ADA

These standards ensure that digital materials are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities.

What You Need to Do:

Before submitting your document, make sure it's easy for people with disabilities to read and use. This means the document should work well with tools like screen readers. Here’s what you need to check:

1. Tags and Reading Order: Use an accessibility checker, like Microsoft’s Accessibility Assistant, to make sure your document is properly tagged and the reading order is correct. Check the Helpful Resources section for step-by-step guidance.
2. Tables: If you use tables, make sure each column and row has a header. This helps people understand what the table is showing. For example, a column might be labeled “Name” or “Date.”
3. Alt Text for Images: If you include pictures, charts, or diagrams, add a short description (called “alt text”) that explains what the image shows. This helps people who can’t see the image understand what it’s about.
4. Descriptive Links: Write link text that is clear about where the link goes. Make sure the links work and point to the right place.
5. File Metadata: The document’s title and author information are required for accessibility. This helps people using assistive technology recognize what the document is about before they open it.

Helpful Resources:

Use the following to learn how to make your documents accessible: 

• Accessibility Resource Center (ARC): How-To's for Accessible PDFs and Word Documents
• 02 Digital Accessibility Resources page: Provides a broad range of accessibility resources
• Quick guide to making an accessible thesis: from the University of Toronto
• PDF accessibility checklist​​: Presents 8 key elements of accessibility from Deque
• Creating accessible PDFs: Step-by-step instructions from Harvard University
• Create accessible Word documents: Step-by-step instructions from Harvard University

Need Help?

If you're having trouble finding or using digital accessibility resources, email the Digital Access Committee at digitalaccess@ohsu.edu for support.