Toolkit Access
Make your pages accessible to the visually or otherwise disabled. These guidelines are adapted from http://web.mit.edu/atic/www/accessibility/developweb.html:
- Images -- Use the alt attribute. Text browsers and screen readers use alt text in place of images. For site navigation images, alt text is critical. Use empty double quotes as alt text for spacer images. Avoid animations.
- Hypertext links -- Use text that makes sense when read out of context. Avoid "click here."
- Skip Navigation -- Put an invisible link near the top of your page to an anchor at the beginning of your page-specific content. This gives visitors using screen readers the option not to have to hear the same navigation links over and over again as they browse your site.
- Page organization -- Use headings, lists, and consistent structure. Use style sheets for layout and font style wherever possible.
- Frames -- Don't use them; but if you must, use NOFRAMES and meaningful titles.
- Tables -- Make line by line reading sensible. Screen readers read from left to right, top to bottom. An example of inaccessible table design can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/usability/webconf/ lowney/lowney.htm#tables_frames. Summarize your table contents with the caption tag or summary attribute.
- Don't forget the Accessibility Checker at http://webxact.watchfire.com. Your minimum goal should be no Priority 1 errors.
- Do not convey important information solely through color, e.g., red text for required fields in forms. 10% of your users may be red-green colorblind and won't get your message if you don't spell it out. You will find some helpful resources in the Color and Graphics section of this site.
- Include an email link alternative on form pages.
- Image maps -- Use client-side MAP and alternative text for hotspots. Provide alternative links for navigation; do not rely solely on your image map. For instructions on how to create image maps, see Advanced Topics.
For more detailed information, visit http://www.w3.org/WAI/. Or, visit The University of Arizona Web Resources site for easy-to-understand tutorials on implementing accessibility.
