Dena Shumila
1. Hypertext links should be descriptive, and should make sense when they are read one at a time or out of context.
2. Provide alternate text descriptions (Alt-Text) for all graphics.
- Alpha-numeric characters contained within an image do not qualify as Alt Text.
3. Provide text-only alternate pages or sites in the following cases.
- To translate graphic and text information into a text only version.
- To describe a movie by providing an audio description of visual components like facial expressions and environment.
- To describe a movie by providing captioning or a transcript of audio components like sounds and words.
4. Forms can be made accessible by:
- Providing a form which can be downloaded then mailed or e-mailed.
- Providing a phone number someone can call to supply the requested information.
- Using exclusively text-based input.
- Avoiding horizontal line breaks.
- Avoiding default text entry, and clarifying where text entry fields occur and which information is being requested.
5. Avoid tables whenever possible. Place information contained within a table in a more linear format.
6. Background patterns and colour should contrast well with the lettering to maintain readability.
7. Include outlines at the beginning of documents.
- Outlines identify the relevant features of a document, such as a general description of its structure, function, or content.
8. Lists can be made accessible by:
- Announcing the occurrence of the list, and announcing the number of available choices before the list begins.
- Labelling list items numerically.
- Labelling sublist items alphabetically.
- Putting a line break between each list item.
9. Buttons and Image Maps can be made accessible by:
- Including a text anchor from an Image Map to a page describing the graphic as a whole, other significant graphic elements, pictures...
- Providing text anchors for all Image Links or Hotspots accessible through an Image Map.
- Giving the URL's associated with Image Links descriptive names, rather than names like "pic1", "pic2"... Descriptive names will enable users who are studying the source code of a document to determine the general contents of the page that the Image Link will take them to if it is selected.
10. General design tips.
- Avoid non-standard HTML formats.
- Avoid special tags.
- Avoid uncommon typographical characters or constructions.
- Avoid providing information that does not enhance the user's exploration or understanding of the page.