Accessibility

Email Campaigns and Surveys

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Here are quick tips for creating accessible emails. In addition to the suggestions below, Qualtrics also provides an accessibility checking feature.
    • The email layout is clean, simple, and easy to navigate with clear sections.
    • There are no complex tables or multi-column designs that may confuse screen readers.
    • The content flows logically from top to bottom and left to right. The reading order of the content should match the visual layout.
    • Keyboard focus is visible when tabbing through the email.
    • Always use Styles for Text to create a consistent structure and preserve tab order
    • Use bulleted and numbered lists to organize data and make it easily scannable when possible
    • Format your lists with Outlook formatting or Styles.
    • Colors or sensory characteristics are not used alone to convey meaning.
    • User interface components have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent color(s).
    • User interface components do not contain anything that flashes or blinks more than three times in any one-second period — strobe effects should never be used.
    • User interface components with labels that include text or images of text have a name that contains the text that is presented visually.
    • Include Alt Text for all images
    • Avoid using text inside of images to relay important information. 
    • Links and buttons are keyboard-navigable and easily clickable on mobile.
    • Buttons are at least 44x44 pixels for easy tapping.
    • Write links that explain where the link goes and how it will perform
    • Semantic HTML elements are used (e.g., <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <footer>) to help screen readers interpret content correctly.
    • Appropriate HTML tags are used (like <table> for tabular data and <p> for paragraphs) instead of generic <div> or <span> tags.
    • ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) are used to enhance accessibility, such as role="banner", role="navigation", or role="button" where necessary.
    • The email is tested with screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver to ensure it is navigable and all elements are read correctly.
    • The email has been tested on different email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail) and devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure proper rendering and accessibility.
    • All content is accessible without a mouse. Navigate through your email using only the keyboard (Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Space) to ensure this.
    • Use the Accessibility Checker
      • An Accessibility Checker is available in Outlook to help you determine if there are any accessibility problems with your email. 
      • Find it in the the Review tab
    • A link to an accessibility statement and/or contact information for recipients who need assistance or further accommodations is provided

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