he Disability decorative image that does not
Discrimination Act says have any function other than to
that websites must be made look nice. Does a yellow box
accessible to disabled people. So appear with a description of the
how can you check that your image? It should not. There is no
website is up to par? There are a reason for users whose browsers
number of basic tests you can do not support images to know
make to address some of the main that this image is there, as it
issues that provide a good start serves no purpose.
in increasing accessibility to
your site visitors: Be careful though as this is not
a foolproof test. If a yellow box
1. Check informational images for does not appear, this could mean
alternative text one of two things:
Place the cursor over an - The alternative text of the
informational image, for example, image is assigned a null value,
the organisation logo. Does a which means that it will be
yellow box appear with a brief, ignored by browsers that do not
accurate description of the support images. This is the ideal
image? For users whose browsers scenario.
do not support images, this
alternative text is what they - The alternative text of the
will see (or hear) in place of image is simply not set at all,
the image. which means that users whose
browsers do not support images
2. Check decorative images for will be alerted to its existence
alternative text but will be unable to find out
what purpose it carries -
Place the cursor over a something which is very
frustrating! This is certainly that text? If not, your forms are
not the desired outcome. inaccessible.
3. ‘Listen' to any video or 5. Check that text can be resized
audio content with the volume
turned off In Internet Explorer (used by
over 90% of Internet users) go to
If you turn your speakers off, View > Font size > Largest. Does
you are clearly unable to listen the text on your website increase
to, or follow, any audio content. in size? If not, then your
This situation is faced by a deaf website is inaccessible to web
person on a daily basis. Ensure users with poor visibility.
your website supplies written
transcripts, so that deaf people 6. Check your website in the Lynx
can understand the message that browser
your website is conveying.
The Lynx browser is a text-only
4. Check that forms are browser and does not support many
accessible of the features that other
browsers such as Internet
Usually there is prompt text next Explorer have. You can check how
to each item in a form. For your site looks in this browser
example, a contact form might with the Lynx Viewer, available
have the prompt text ‘name', at
‘e-mail', and ‘comments', http://www.delorie.com/web/lynxvi
each one next to a box where your ew.html. If your website makes
site users will enter the sense and can be navigated
information. When you click on through the Lynx browser, then it
the prompt text, does a flashing will be fulfilling many of the
cursor appear in the box next to web accessibility guidelines.
to the next. Does all the link
7. Check that you can access all text on your website make sense
areas of your website without the out of context? ‘Click here'
use of a mouse and ‘more' are two common
examples of non-descriptive link
Can you navigate through your text.
website using just tab, shift-tab
and return? If not, then neither 10. Check your web pages with an
can keyboard- and voice-only automated program
users.
Two programs available for free
8. Check that there is a site map on the Internet are Bobby (
http://bobby.watchfire.com ) and
Can you find a site map? If not, Wave ( http://www.wave.webaim.org
then neither can people who are ). They are unable to provide you
lost on your website. with all the information that you
need, as some checks must be done
9. Ensure link text makes sense by humans, but they can tell you
out of context some of the areas where your site
might be going wrong.
Blind Internet users often browse
websites by tabbing from one link
About the Author:
This article was written by Trenton Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility - so crazy that he went and started his own web usability and accessibility consultancy ( Webcredible - http://www.webcredible.co.uk ) to help make the Internet a better place for everyone.
Read more articles by:
Trenton Moss
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
