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Writing for the Web: A Primer for Librarians
by Eric H. Schnell
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There has been an increased sensitivity to the fact that many Web documents are written using HTML codes which actually inhibit access.
Designing documents with accessibility in mind allows the content to reach as many readers as possible. This includes people using telephone-based browsers, those with slow connections (including most people outside of North America and Western Europe) who turn off graphics, those restricted to low-end browsers that don't understand constructs such as tables and frames, as well as people with disabilities.
A common misconception is that web accessibility means that a Web document must use minimal design and cater to those with disabilities. People have also misinterpreted accessibility to mean that graphics and multimedia should be avoided. Neither is the intent. The goal of Web accessibility initiatives is to raise awareness that Web document need to be designed so they are usable for all users, not just those with disabilities. Authors are not be discouraged from using multimedia, but rather should use it in a manner which ensures that the material they publish is accessible to the widest possible audience.
Here are some design consideration which can make a Web document
more accessible:
- Use the ALT tag to describe the function of all images, photographs and animations.
- Use headings, lists, table summaries, and a clear and consistent page structure to make pages quick to scan.
- Since many people cannot use a mouse, use Client-Side Mapping to provide alternative text for Imagemap hotspots.
- Descriptive text for links can improve access for those with vision impairment. Each link should make sense when read alone.
- Provide captions or transcripts of any audio content. Add text or audio descriptions of any video content.
- Provide alternate content for scripting, applets or plug-ins so important information is not lost when it is unsupported or turned off at the client side.
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