Accessibility Foundations with POUR

Making Digital Content Inclusive

Accessibility and the P.O.U.R. Principles

At Cambrian, accessibility is a core value that reflects our commitment to equity and inclusion.
It means making sure everyone can access and use information—regardless of their abilities.
It’s also a legal requirement for all digital content under provincial standards.

This course will guide you through the P.O.U.R. principles, which are the foundation of accessible design.
According to accessibility standards, content must be:


Perceivable icon as part of POUR  Perceivable


Operable icon as part of POUR Operable


Understandable icon as part of POUR Understandable


Robust icon as part of POUR Robust

Throughout this course, you’ll explore each principle in more detail and learn practical ways to apply them to your work.

Learning Activities Learning Outcomes

By participating in this course, you will:

  • ​Explain the importance of accessibility by identifying challenges experienced by people with disabilities.
  • Define the key principles of the P.O.U.R. accessibility framework.​
  • Identify common accessibility barriers in digital content.​
  • Apply P.O.U.R. principles to improve accessibility in your own materials.

Introduction

This course will introduce the P.O.U.R. Principles and demonstrate their importance.

Before you begin, consider the following:

  • Why is it important to provide accessible materials?
  • Who benefits when digital content is accessible?
  • How can you ensure that your own documents and materials are accessible?

This module is an introduction to accessibility and the P.O.U.R. Principles. Use the arrows below the slides to navigate through the presentation. Be sure to complete all activities and answer all questions before moving on.

Perceivable

Ensuring Content Can Be Seen and Heard

  • Users should be able to see, hear, or interpret content in multiple ways. ​

  • Content must be perceivable to all. ​

  • Barriers include low contrast text, missing captions, and unlabeled images.

Operable

Users must be able to navigate and interact.

    • All interactive elements should work with a keyboard.
    • Users must have enough time to complete tasks.
    • Navigation should be clear and easy to follow.
    • Support multiple input methods.

Understandable

Content must be clear and predictable.

  • Content should be clear and easy to read.
  • Navigation and layout must be predictable.
  • Use simple language and avoid jargon.
  • Provide clear instructions and feedback.

Robust

Content is adaptable and functional across different technologies.

  • Keep text separate from images.
  • Format emails and documents properly.
  • Choose accessible file types.
  • Ensure content remains usable over time.