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Accessibility
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Building Your Site:
Putting it all together

What make a site successful?

Site Design
[1][2]

Content Design

Page Design

Accessibility
[1] [2] [3]
[4] [5]

Reference Library
What EVERY web designer should have on his desk

 

Techniques for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
(from the W3 site)

  1. Don't rely on color alone.

If information is explained through color provide a text alternative

Consider how your page looks to the colorblind.

  1. Use markup and style sheets and do so properly.

There is a wealth of information about style sheets available on the Internet.

W3C.org

Dave Raggett (of W3C.org)

CSS Pointers Group (they also have a newsgroups)

Web Design Group

The CSShark

  1. Clarify natural language usage

There isn't a web site in the world that wouldn't benefit from this!. Indicate when there is a language change in the copy.

<P>And with a certain <SPAN lang="fr">je ne sais quoi</SPAN>, she entered both the room, and his life, forever. <Q>My name is Natasha,</Q> she said. <Q lang="it">Piacere,</Q> he replied in impeccable Italian, locking the door.

  1. Create tables that transform gracefully.

If tables contain information that is not layout information (e.g. this page is one table) make sure the columns and rows contain appropriate descriptors.

  1. Ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully.

    2. Although you should use style sheets, make sure your page renders properly without them

    If you use Flash, Shockwave or another technology that requires a plug-in, offer alternative information

    Put in <NOSCRIPT> tags

    Don't use frames

  2. Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes.

Moving, blinking, scrolling objects should be able to be stopped by the user. Sound should have an off button (in general, sound shouldn't be used on web sites.) Avoid auto-refreshes and redirects (spiders don't like redirects)

  1. Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces. (Similar to #6)

  2. Design for device-independence.

    3. Name image maps and program them to work on enter commands

    Program mouse over buttons to also be key up buttons

    Create a logical tabbed order. At the top of every page I have a space.gif with an <ALT>"Skip navigation" that anchors to my content. Users using readers can click on that to avoid hearing the navigation every time they enter a page.

  3. Use interim solutions.

    4. Make every effort to make your site usable as quickly as possible, as simply as possible. Rename all space images is a start, then rethink things as opportunities appear. The important thing is to NOT DO NOTHING.

  4. Use W3C technologies and guidelines.

  5. Provide context and orientation information.

  6. Provide clear navigation mechanisms.

  7. Ensure that documents are clear and simple.

 

© Copyright 2003 | Something Graphic | 20 November, 2003

Contact me:learn@CognitiveHorizons.com