ADA ACCESSIBILITY COMPLIANCE GUIDELINES

On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice updated the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II regulations to include requirements for accessible websites and mobile apps. The compliance deadline has been extended to April 26, 2027.

The Division of Oil, Gas and Mining has a legal and ethical responsibility to make its content as accessible as possible. To comply with a 2024 update, the division must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1. This update applies to all websites, apps, and other documents (particularly those hosted online). Use these resources to create content that meets these guidelines.

Accessible documents help ensure that everyone, including people using screen readers or assistive technology, can access and understand our information. Use this checklist before publishing or sharing documents, presentations, PDFs, webpages, or emails.

For questions about ADA-compliant documents and accessibility checkers, please reach out to Angela Nance (mining), Patty Rowe (oil and gas) or Julie Ann Carter (board).

At a Glance

  • Use clear, simple language
  • Keep sentences and paragraphs short
  • Use built-in headings and bullet points instead of manually styling text
  • Use readable fonts. Arial or Verdana are the fonts the Division is recommending
  • Minimum font size: 12 pt (18–24 pt for presentations)
  • Set line spacing to 1.5 and use double spacing between paragraphs
  • Left-align text and leave white space between sections
  • Use high color contrast (black text on white background)
  • Use descriptive hyperlinks (avoid “click here”)
  • Add alt text for meaningful images: “OGM inspector conducting a site inspection at an active oil well in Uintah County.”
  • Keep tables simple, clearly organized, and easy to read

More Detailed Information:

Plain Language

☐ Content is written clearly and concisely
☐ Sentences are short and easy to understand
☐ Technical jargon is avoided when possible
☐ Acronyms are spelled out on first use
☐ Information is organized logically

Document Structure

☐ Built-in heading styles are used (not just bold text)
☐ Headings follow a logical order (Heading 1 → Heading 2 → Heading 3)
☐ Bullet points or numbered lists are used where appropriate
☐ Paragraphs are short and readable
☐ Section titles clearly describe content

Fonts and Formatting

☐ Use either Arial or Verdana font
☐ Font size is at least 11 pt; presentation font should be a minimum size of 18–24 pt
☐ Set line spacing to 1.5 and use double spacing between paragraphs
☐ Text is left-aligned when possible
☐ Avoid ALL CAPS
☐ Avoid excessive bold, italics, and underlining
☐ Adequate white space is included

Color and Contrast

☐ Text has a strong contrast against the background (black text on a white background)
☐ Color is not the only way information is communicated
☐ Hyperlinks are easy to identify and read

Images and Graphics

☐ Alt text is included for all meaningful images
☐ Alt text briefly describes the purpose or important information in the image
☐ Decorative images are marked decorative when possible
☐ Images do not contain excessive text

Alt Text Example

  • Good: “OGM staff inspecting a reclaimed mine site in Emery County.”
  • Avoid: “Picture” or “Image of staff.”

Hyperlinks

☐ Link text clearly describes the destination
☐ “Click here” or vague link text is avoided
☐ Links are functional and current

Hyperlink Example

  • Good: “View the annual report.”
  • Avoid: “Click here.”

Tables

☐ Tables are used only for data, not layout
☐ Header rows are identified
☐ Table structure is simple and easy to read
☐ Merged or split cells are avoided when possible

Accessible Documents

☐ Microsoft Accessibility Checker has been run
☐ Content reads in the correct order when using accessibility tools
☐ Built-in heading styles are used throughout the document
☐ Alt text has been added to images
☐ Tables include headers
☐ PDFs are exported with accessibility tags enabled

Run Accessibility Checker

  • Microsoft Word: Review → Check Accessibility
  • PowerPoint: Review → Check Accessibility
  • Adobe Acrobat: Accessibility Tools

Final Review

☐ Spellcheck completed
☐ Grammar reviewed
☐ Accessibility review completed before publishing or sharing
☐ Document is easy to navigate and read using assistive technology if applicable