Updated Distinction Without Color Accessibility Tip Sheet
Biweekly Accessibility Tips
Dear Colleagues,
Learn how to use color accessibly with the updated Distinction without Color Tip Sheet.
What is "Distinction without Color?"
The term “Distinction Without Color” comes from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) in Criterion 1.4.1: Use of Color. The WCAG defines the term as ensuring that “color is not the only way of distinguishing information."
When you use color to convey meaning, you must add an alternative method of conveying meaning or assigning value that does not rely solely on color. This additional method ensures that people who are colorblind can still understand your message.
When you might use color to convey meaning:
- Graphs and charts
- Hyperlinks
- Flagging important information or prompting specific action
This tip sheet includes:
- What is distinction without color?
- Where color may convey meaning (Graphs/charts, hyperlinks, and flagging important information or prompt specific action)
- Adding additional methods of conveying meaning
- Using the "Inspect without Color" feature in PowerPoint to see your slides in grayscale
- Making line graphs, bar graphs, and pie/doughnut charts accessible by adding shapes, patterns, dotted and dashed lines, labels, image descriptions or accessible tables
- Underlining or bolding hyperlinks
- Making your message clear when flagging important information or prompting specific action (such as required fields and error messages)
To access previous tip sheets, open the AHS Accessibility Tip Sheets folder. If you have any questions or need more support, you can visit AHS Accessibility Specialist office hours or submit a support ticket.