First Steps to improve website accessibility
The 1995 UK Disability Discrimination Act or similar legislation in the US
means website owners and designers must make reasonable adjustments
if necessary, to allow access to those with disabilities - not just the blind.
This is our concise guide to hopefully help you achieve "reasonable" compliance,
without going bankrupt!
Do the following in order (and it shouldn't be as daunting or time-consuming as it looks):
- Proof. Make a copy of your website, date and archive it,
so you can prove what adjustments you made.
- Images. Always supply an ALT attribute. Make sure the text is adequate
and meaningful, especially if an image conveys information or is used for navigation.
But some people have reading and understanding difficulties,
so don't be afraid to use pictures and images.
- CSS. Use CSS for text size and color. Avoid inline styles,
link to a style sheet so I can use mine instead.
- Colour. Use contrasting light and dark colours for text and background.
But avoid red on blue and also remember the colour-blind.
If you use colour to convey information, make sure there's an alternative.
- Text. Your eyes may be capable of reading tiny spidery text, mine aren't
and I have pilot's 20-20 vision (with glasses).
Avoid fixing font sizes in pages and
make sure I can use my browser's resizing capability.
- Motion. I have RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)
- too many years computer programming and on the WWW.
Others have motability issues such as arthritis.
Make navigation easy, give alternatives to image maps.
- Frames. Always provide a noframes alternative.
- Flash. Provide text alternatives if necessary and possible. Sometimes it isn't, so use it wisely.
- Javascript. Make sure if a visitor has it switched off, or it fails,
it fails safe with a working alternative.
- HTML. Only use valid W3C HTML - check with the
W3 Validator.
If any errors are justifiable, use a modified DTD as we do.
Submit your URL to Bobby.
Make any changes to pass the automated test, and achieve level 1.
Do other checks later; Bobby and WAI are exhaustive -
what really is reasonable?
These are first steps, and you can continue the
voyage at W3 WAI.
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