5 Steps to Send an Accessible Docusign Envelope

Docusign aims to continually improve our accessibility support for people with disabilities. We’re pleased to offer an accessible signing experience when using assistive technology. However, this is dependent on senders ensuring the envelopes they send for signature are properly set up for accessibility.

Follow these steps to ensure your Docusign envelope is accessible for all.

1. Add an accessible document

We recommend uploading a Microsoft Word document or tagged PDF/UA document. Run the Accessibility Checker in Word or Accessibility Check in Acrobat to review and fix common document accessibility issues.

Here are a few tips:

• Use heading styles for headings that organize sections of your form.
• Use list styles to format lists of numbered or bulleted items.
• Ensure sufficient color contrast.
• Design your form’s layout to be simple for optimal readability.

2. Add fields to the document

Add fields to the document and assign them to the correct recipient. Select the most appropriate field type from the fields palette to make it easier for signers to complete it. For example, if you need to collect the signer’s name on the form, use the Name field so the signer doesn’t have to enter their name more than once.

3. Add labels to fields

Select each field one-by-one and navigate to the properties panel on the right to set the field properties necessary for accessibility.

Tooltip

Setting a tooltip for each field is the most important step to ensure your envelope is accessible. The tooltip describes the purpose of the form field and should match the label on your document adjacent to the field. For example, for a field asking for your child’s date of birth, the tooltip should be “Child’s Date of Birth”.

Tooltips provide an accessible name or label to Docusign form fields. People using assistive technology — including screen readers used by people who are blind or have low vision — rely on accurate field labels to understand the purpose of the fields. Without adding a tooltip, screen reader users can’t complete the form independently.

The tooltip also appears as a helpful visible label within the signing experience when interacting with the field.

Checkbox and Radio Button Groups

Set the group tooltip for groups of checkboxes or radio buttons. The group tooltip should describe the question or purpose of the group, such as “Preferred Contact Method”.

For each individual checkbox or radio button option, set the checkbox value or radio button value. These values correspond to the label for each option, such as “Phone”, “Mail”, or “Email”.

4. Add validation to fields

Some field types, like text fields, support data validation to assist signers in completing their form accurately without errors. Validation enforces a standard format for common or custom types of data. If your text field collects data that follows a specific format (like a ZIP code or social security number), set the validation property. If the signer doesn’t follow the correct format, an error message that describes the required format will be shown. Signers will have to resolve the error before finishing.

5. Preview your envelope

Preview the envelope before sending to ensure you have configured the fields properly. Select the Preview button near the top of the page to see what recipients will experience in the signing experience. Use the mouse or keyboard to navigate to each field, and the tooltip will appear.

Now that you’ve followed these steps, you’re ready to send your accessible envelope!

Watch and listen to this video demonstrating our signing experience with a screen reader:

Find additional resources on our Docusign Accessibility Hub.