The Department of Technology Equity and Inclusion (TEIN) is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive digital environment. To help TEIN’s mission, all site maintainers should ensure their PDFs are accessible before posting to the web. This is accomplished by submitting a remediation ticket with the TEIN department.
If you haven't been doing this, you should start doing so from this point forward.
Submit a PDF Ticket with TEIN
Before publishing a document on our campus website, please submit a support ticket to check for accessibility.
Content Accessibility and Remediation Ticket
Once the accessible document has been returned, the PDF can be updated in Cascade. If you are unsure how to update documents in Cascade, please watch the following tutorial:
Tips and Tricks for Uploading into Cascade
Submitting Multiple Files to the Content Accessibility and Remediation Ticket
If you want to submit multiple files in one ticket request, create a ZIP archive.
How to Create a .zip Archive
- Place files into a folder.
- Right-click the folder, then select:
- Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder on Windows.
- Compress "folder name" on Mac.
File Naming Rules and Recommendations
Use Slugs for Filenames
Remember to use slugs for your filenames to ensure it is easily read while also fulfilling Cascade requirements.
- No capitalization
- No special characters
- No spaces
- Use dashes instead of underscores
Examples of Correct and Incorrect Filenames:
Correct Filename: ba-course-sequence.pdf
Incorrect Filename: BA Course Sequence.pdf
The Slugify Slug Generator is a great tool for quickly renaming your files.
Keep the Same Filename If You Can
We recommend not changing the filename unless absolutely necessary. Keeping the same filename will retain the URL and prevent broken links from occurring. If you must do it, there will be an additional step in the uploading process.
Use Generic Filenames and Add Revision Dates Within Your Document
When changing the filename, we recommend using a generic title:
Instead of
- budget-guidebook-rvsd-4-18-19.pdf
Include the last revised date within the document to track and communicate document versions.
How to Change a Filename and Add Revision Dates Within Cascade
Although it is not recommended, there may be circumstances that justify the decision to change the filename. Here are the steps:
- Find your document within Cascade by navigating into _assets/documents or using the search function at the top right.
- Right-click the file you wish to change, then select rename.
- Republish your entire site after you're done. Cascade is smart enough to know that you've changed the filename so internal links will still work. That said, you still need to republish the whole site to ensure it works.
Video: Changing a Filename Within Cascade
Why You Should Remediate Your PDFs to Ensure Accessibility
It's Our Legal Obligation
The university is required by law to take action to ensure content is accessible to all audiences, including those with visual impairments. By publishing non-accessible PDFs, you are increasing the risk of a lawsuit being filed against Chico State.
Promote Inclusivity and Equity
When digital content is accessible, usability increases for viewers of all abilities. Although digital accessibility greatly benefits users with disabilities, the inclusive design can also reach and aid users with:
- Differing technology platforms and mobile devices
- Second-language acquisition
Accessible documents also create a robust foundation of the content. Editors can make changes much more quickly and effortlessly.
Inclusive Design Benefits Everyone
Interested in broadening your understanding of inclusive design? Here are 3 video links that further explain the "why" behind inclusive design.
How the Blind Use Technology to See the World from TEDx talks.
Accessibility at Apple.
Inclusive Skype from Microsoft.