{"id":22174,"date":"2026-02-19T06:38:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T12:38:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/?p=22174"},"modified":"2026-02-19T06:38:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T12:38:54","slug":"brightspace-accessibility-tip-text-formatting-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-accessibility-tip-text-formatting-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Brightspace Accessibility Tip: Text Formatting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Brightspace, our Learning Management System (LMS), is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.d2l.com\/accessibility\/\">designed with accessibility in mind<\/a>. However, it is the responsibility of the instructor and\/or course designer to ensure their course content is formatted using best practices for accessibility; including the use of good heading structure, text formatting, contrast and color, descriptive links, alternative text, tables, lists, etc.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>You can make small changes when creating course content to make it accessible.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I am writing a series of accessibility related blog posts that will provide suggestions on how you can make small changes when creating course content to make it accessible. This is the second tip in my series of <a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/accessibility-kneads\/\">accessibility related blog posts<\/a> and it focuses on text formatting.<\/p>\n<p>Text formatting is an important consideration for accessibility. Readable content directly supports accessibility by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Supporting Users with Visual Impairments:<\/strong> Clear typography and proper contrast help users with low vision, color blindness, or other visual disabilities read content more easily.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Assisting Cognitive Accessibility:<\/strong> Simple, well-structured content helps users with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or other cognitive differences process information more effectively.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Improving Screen Reader Experience:<\/strong> Properly formatted content with clear headings, lists, and link text helps screen reader users navigate and understand content efficiently.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reducing Eye Strain:<\/strong> Good typography and color choices benefit everyone, including users who experience fatigue or have temporary vision issues.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhancing Mobile Accessibility:<\/strong> Readable content is especially important on smaller screens, where text clarity becomes even more critical.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An accessible font means using a typeface designed for easy reading by a diverse audience, including individuals with visual impairments such as low vision or reading disability such as dyslexia. Accessible typography ensures that textual information is accessible to all users, irrespective of their abilities or disabilities.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few suggestions for making text legible for persons with a visual impairment and that work for nearly everyone.<\/p>\n<table style=\"text-align: left; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle;\"><strong>Contrast<\/strong> \u2013 Use the highest possible contrast for text<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pages.mtu.edu\/~nilufer\/classes\/cs3611\/interesting-stuff\/designing-with-colors-1\/clrart2.jpg?ssl=1\" title=\"contrast\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pages.mtu.edu\/~nilufer\/classes\/cs3611\/interesting-stuff\/designing-with-colors-1\/clrart2.jpg?resize=236%2C180&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"image showing contrasting text that is effective and text that is not effective\" height=\"180\" width=\"236\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle;\"><strong>Point Size<\/strong> \u2013 The relationship between readability and point size differs somewhat among typefaces.\n<\/td>\n<td  style=\"vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/font-point-size.jpg\" title=\"point size\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/font-point-size.jpg?resize=266%2C176\" alt=\"image showing font point size that is effective and point size that is not effective\" height=\"176\" width=\"266\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle;\"><strong>Leading<\/strong> \u2013 Spacing between lines of text, should be at least 25 to 30 percent of the point size.\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/leading.jpg\" title=\"leading\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/leading.jpg?resize=260%2C262\" alt=\"image showing leading that is effective and leading that is not effective\" height=\"262\" width=\"260\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle;\"><strong>Font Family<\/strong> \u2013 Avoid complicated, decorative or cursive fonts. When they must be used, reserve them for emphasis only.\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/font-family.jpg\" title=\"font family\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/font-family.jpg?resize=260%2C166\" alt=\"image showing times roman font family as a font that is more effective than a decorative font family\" height=\"166\" width=\"260\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle;\"><strong>Sans-serif<\/strong> or <strong>standard serif fonts<\/strong> with familiar, easily recognizable characters are best.\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mattlilleyinteractivemedia.weebly.com\/uploads\/1\/3\/6\/3\/13637897\/7059648_orig.jpg\" title=\"san-serif\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mattlilleyinteractivemedia.weebly.com\/uploads\/1\/3\/6\/3\/13637897\/7059648_orig.jpg?resize=250%2C143\" alt=\"image showing difference between serif and san-serif fonts\" height=\"143\" width=\"250\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle;\"><strong>Font Style<\/strong> \u2013 Roman typeface, using upper and lower cases, is more readable than italics, oblique or condensed.\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/font-style.jpg\" title=\"font style\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/font-style.jpg?resize=260%2C184\" alt=\"image showing font style that is effective and font style that is not effective\" height=\"184\" width=\"260\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><div>\nAlso, you should ensure that your text is selectable. Text that can be selected with a cursor is accessible to screen readers and other assistive technology. Images of text, such as word art, screenshots, or infographics are not accessible. A screen reader can not read the text in images. If you must include non-selectable text, also provide a text alternative.\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Some additional points to consider: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Color should not be the only method used to convey information<\/li>\n<li>Avoid red or green text or text decoration, such as Word Art, Shadows, 3D, etc.<\/li>\n<li>Use bold or italic to display emphasis<\/li>\n<li>Do not underline text (screen readers interpret underlines as links)<\/li>\n<li>Avoid writing whole sentences in capital letters<\/li>\n<li>Avoid moving or blinking text<\/li>\n<li>Keep the number of fonts used to a minimum<\/li>\n<li>The reading order should be the same as the visual order<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can find more information about <a href=\"https:\/\/webaim.org\/techniques\/fonts\/\">accessible typefaces and fonts<\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/webaim.org\/\">Web AIM<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You will remove significant barriers for the visually impaired if you take these suggestions into consideration when creating course content. An added bonus is that there will be students without disabilities, as well as those who have chosen not to disclose their disability to you, who will find your use of these tips helpful as well. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brightspace, our Learning Management System (LMS), is designed with accessibility in mind. However, it is the responsibility of the instructor and\/or course designer to ensure their course content is formatted using best practices for accessibility; including the use of good heading structure, text formatting, contrast and color, descriptive links, alternative text, tables, lists, etc. You <a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-accessibility-tip-text-formatting-2\/\" class=\"more-link\">...continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> \"Brightspace Accessibility Tip: Text Formatting\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,403,14],"tags":[16],"class_list":{"0":"post-22174","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-accessibility-kneads","7":"category-brightspace","8":"category-tech-tips-a-la-carte","9":"tag-accessibility","10":"h-entry","11":"hentry","12":"h-as-article"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p82MQk-5LE","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14006,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-accessibility-tip-text-formatting\/","url_meta":{"origin":22174,"position":0},"title":"Brightspace Accessibility Tip: Text Formatting","author":"Janice Florent","date":"July 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Brightspace, our Learning Management System (LMS), was designed with accessibility in mind. However, it is the responsibility of the instructor and\/or course designer to ensure their course content is formatted using best practices for accessibility; including the use of good heading structure, text formatting, contrast and color, descriptive links, alternative\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Accessibility Kneads&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Accessibility Kneads","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/accessibility-kneads\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"image showing contrasting text that is effective and text that is not effective","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pages.mtu.edu\/~nilufer\/classes\/cs3611\/interesting-stuff\/designing-with-colors-1\/clrart2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14208,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-accessibility-tip-tables\/","url_meta":{"origin":22174,"position":1},"title":"Brightspace Accessibility Tip: Tables","author":"Janice Florent","date":"August 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Brightspace, our Learning Management System (LMS), was designed with accessibility in mind. However, it is the responsibility of the instructor and\/or course designer to ensure their course content is formatted using best practices for accessibility; including the use of good heading structure, text formatting, contrast and color, descriptive links, alternative\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Accessibility Kneads&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Accessibility Kneads","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/accessibility-kneads\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"example of accessible tables","src":"https:\/\/facultycentral.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/04\/tables-compliant.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/facultycentral.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/04\/tables-compliant.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1 1x, https:\/\/facultycentral.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/04\/tables-compliant.jpg?w=525&h=300&crop=1 1.5x, https:\/\/facultycentral.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/04\/tables-compliant.jpg?w=700&h=400&crop=1 2x, https:\/\/facultycentral.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/04\/tables-compliant.jpg?w=1050&h=600&crop=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22237,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-accessibility-tip-when-alt-text-is-not-enough-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":22174,"position":2},"title":"Brightspace Accessibility Tip: When &#8220;Alt Text&#8221; is not Enough","author":"Janice Florent","date":"March 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Brightspace, our Learning Management System (LMS), is designed with accessibility in mind. However, it is the responsibility of the instructor and\/or course designer to ensure their course content is formatted using best practices for accessibility; including the use of good heading structure, text formatting, contrast and color, descriptive links, alternative\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Accessibility Kneads&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Accessibility Kneads","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/accessibility-kneads\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"example of a infographic","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/3911\/14856982297_f0eca53ac1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14088,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-accessibility-tip-when-alt-text-is-not-enough\/","url_meta":{"origin":22174,"position":3},"title":"Brightspace Accessibility Tip: When &#8220;Alt Text&#8221; is not Enough","author":"Janice Florent","date":"July 28, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Brightspace, our Learning Management System (LMS), was designed with accessibility in mind. 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