Ensuring that documentation in knowledge bases remains accessible to all users is a fundamental requirement, especially in compliance with accessibility regulations such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). DITA indexing can play a significant role in supporting compliance with these regulations by making content more navigable and understandable for individuals with disabilities.

Structural Organization

DITA indexing allows for the creation of structured indexes that provide clear hierarchies and categorizations of content. This structural organization can greatly benefit users who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies. For example, semantic indexing using DITA elements like <index-see></index-see> and <index-see-also></index-see-also> can help users with disabilities find related content more easily.

Alternative Text and Descriptions

Another aspect of DITA indexing that aids accessibility is the ability to provide alternative text and descriptions for index entries. This is especially important for images, diagrams, or charts included in the index. By using DITA elements like <index-see></index-see> in combination with alt text for images, organizations can ensure that users with visual impairments can access meaningful descriptions of indexed content.

Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA indexing supports accessibility compliance:

<index id=""accessibility_features"">
  <title>Accessibility Features</title>
  <index-see>
    <term>Screen Reader Compatibility</term>
    <description>This section provides information on making content compatible with screen readers.</description>
  </index-see>
  <index-see-also>
    <term>Alt Text Guidelines</term>
    <description>Guidelines for providing alternative text for images.</description>
  </index-see-also>

In this example, the DITA index includes descriptive content for index entries, making it more accessible and informative for all users, including those with disabilities.