[Ucrfacultyandstaff] How faculty and staff can make their content navigable - Week 4 of the UCR Digital Deep Clean

[UCR Provost]

[image: UC Riverside logo]

"Campus leaders say almost everyone who works at UCR [faculty and staff]
will need to be part of the efforts, from instructors designing courses to
website owners to anyone creating digital content, including emails and
social media posts." - Read the full 'UCR strengthens digital accessibility
efforts' article on InsideUCR
<https://insideucr.ucr.edu/stories/2026/02/04/ucr-strengthens-digital-accessibility-efforts>
.
The UCR Digital Deep Clean

[image: A cluttered home foyer]
Week Four: The Entryway

Navigation is how Highlanders enter and move through our digital spaces.
This week, we’re creating a welcoming “Entryway” by replacing “click here”
links with descriptive text and ensuring our digital forms have clear
labels for everyone.
Week Four Guidance

[image: Descriptive freeway entrance signs]
Links: Describe the Destination

When a screen reader encounters a link that just says "click here" or "read
more," it provides zero context for the user. By using descriptive text,
you aren't just meeting a compliance standard—you're providing a clear
signpost. Descriptive links help busy students, faculty, and staff skim
your emails and webpages in seconds. It makes your messaging more effective
for everyone, regardless of how they access it.

Here are four examples of how to turn vague or inaccessible links into
high-functioning, descriptive text:

   -

   "Click here to download the syllabus" becomes "Download the Biology 101
   Spring 2026 Course Syllabus (PDF)"
   -

   "Read more about our upcoming training sessions" becomes "Register for
   the March 4 'Canvas Course Review: UDOIT Tool’ accessibility workshop”
   -

   "Here’s the link for last month’s notes:
   https://ucr.edu/just-an-example-of-a-very-long-link-that-is-hard-for-screen-readers"
   becomes "Review the February 2026 Academic Senate Committee Meeting
   Minutes"
   -

   "Visit our blog for the full story" becomes "Read 'Important federal and
   systemwide requirements affecting digital content' on InsideUCR
   Announcements"




[image: Person labeling fields on a digital form]
The Weekly Challenge

Review and Revise:

   -
      -

      Links: Review your current work (e.g., presentations, documents,
      courses, and webpages) for non-descriptive links like "click
here" or “read
      more.” Revise these links to describe the link’s action or destination.
      -

      Labels: Review any digital forms you manage. Does every box have a
      clear label? Be sure that fields are clearly labeled and instructions are
      included.

Practice: Build a habit of describing the action or destination every time
you insert a hyperlink—including in your daily emails!
Faculty Focus

Inside Canvas, your links are the primary way students move through course
materials. Below are best practices when developing your course content:

   -

   Use Descriptive Links: Ensure every link in your modules describes the
   action (e.g., "Download the Week 5 Reading List").
   -

   Clearly Label Forms: If you use digital forms for sign-ups or surveys,
   ensure every field has a clear label and concise instructions.

Guidance on Descriptive Links <https://teaching.ucr.edu/descriptive-links>
Document Accessibility Training
<https://learninghub.siteimprove.com/path/comprehensive-document-accessibility>
View Accessibility Resources for Faculty
<https://teaching.ucr.edu/accessibility-guidance-faculty>

Website Wranglers
Accessibility for Designers Course
<https://learninghub.siteimprove.com/customer-training-accessibility-for-designers>
Accessibility for Web Developers Course
<https://learninghub.siteimprove.com/customer-training-accessibility-for-web-developers-part-2-1>
Accessibility Testing for the Web Course
<https://learninghub.siteimprove.com/customer-training-accessibility-testing-for-the-web>

In addition to descriptive links and form labels, a key part of "The
Entryway" is keyboard operability. We highly encourage you to test the
keyboard navigation <https://webaim.org/techniques/keyboard/#testing> on
your website:

   -

   Unplug your mouse (or turn off your trackpad) and attempt to navigate
   your main webpage using only the Tab, Enter, and Arrow keys.
   -

   If you can’t complete a main task or reach a specific button without a
   mouse, that "Entryway" is currently blocked for some Highlanders.
   -

   SiteImprove offers guidance on remediating these navigation hurdles.

Did You Miss Previous Weeks or Want to Get Ahead?

You can find all of the accessibility guidance and resources provided as
part of the Digital Deep Clean challenge on the Digital Accessibility
webpage!
Visit the Digital Accessibility Webpage to Learn More
<https://accessibility.ucr.edu/digital-accessibility>


Access barrier? Report digital accessibility issues or request remediation
<https://ucrsupport.service-now.com/ucr_portal?id=ucr_accessibility_form_login>
of inaccessible digital content.

University of California, Riverside

900 University Ave.

Riverside, CA 92521

951-827-1012 | ucr.edu <https://www.ucr.edu/>
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