This is part of a continuing series of web accessibility tips for IT personnel, web managers and web development groups. These tips can be used to review current website accessibility and to utilize in developing new websites with the hope of improving web accessibility for everyone.
Animation or other moving elements on a web page can be distracting to all users. Even simple animation can render a web page completely inaccessible to users with certain cognitive disabilities or high levels of distractibility. Animation should generally be avoided. Brief animations (ones that completely stop in less than 3 seconds), however, can be used to draw attention to important page elements, such as error messages or alerts.
A common use of animation to increase accessibility and usability is the implementation of what is called the Yellow Fade Technique. This technique presents a bright, quickly fading background to important page elements or messages.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Web Accessibility Wednesday: Seizure Inducing Media
This is part of a continuing series of web accessibility tips for IT personnel, web managers and web development groups. These tips can be used to review current website accessibility and to utilize in developing new websites with the hope of improving web accessibility for everyone.
Flashing, strobing content can cause photo-epileptic seizures. In order to cause a seizure, strobing content must flash more than 3 times per second, be sufficiently large, and have significant contrast in the flashes. The color red is also more likely to cause a seizure. Bright flashing content, particularly in videos, must be avoided.
Flashing, strobing content can cause photo-epileptic seizures. In order to cause a seizure, strobing content must flash more than 3 times per second, be sufficiently large, and have significant contrast in the flashes. The color red is also more likely to cause a seizure. Bright flashing content, particularly in videos, must be avoided.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Web Accessibility Wednesday: Keyboard Accessibility
This is part of a continuing series of web accessibility tips for IT personnel, web managers and web development groups. These tips can be used to review current website accessibility and to utilize in developing new websites with the hope of improving web accessibility for everyone.
Ensuring that your web page is fully accessible using only the keyboard is a vital component of web accessibility. All interactive elements, including links, buttons, form fields, media controls, etc. should be accessible using only the keyboard. Use the Tab key to navigate through page elements. Shift + Tab will navigate backward. The Enter key will typically activate links, buttons, etc. The navigation order of interactive elements should be logical and intuitive. It should generally follow the visual presentation order (left to right, top to bottom). Particular care should be taken to ensure that forms can be completed and submitted using only the keyboard. If you must press the Tab key a significant number of times to interact with a page, consider adding a "Skip to main content" or "skip navigation" link.
Ensuring that your web page is fully accessible using only the keyboard is a vital component of web accessibility. All interactive elements, including links, buttons, form fields, media controls, etc. should be accessible using only the keyboard. Use the Tab key to navigate through page elements. Shift + Tab will navigate backward. The Enter key will typically activate links, buttons, etc. The navigation order of interactive elements should be logical and intuitive. It should generally follow the visual presentation order (left to right, top to bottom). Particular care should be taken to ensure that forms can be completed and submitted using only the keyboard. If you must press the Tab key a significant number of times to interact with a page, consider adding a "Skip to main content" or "skip navigation" link.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Web Accessibility Wednesday: Page Title
This is part of a continuing series of web accessibility tips for IT personnel, web managers and web development groups. These tips can be used to review current website accessibility and to utilize in developing new websites with the hope of improving web accessibility for everyone.
Providing a descriptive, succinct page title is important for accessibility. The page title (usually appears at the very top of the browser window) is the first thing seen by sighted users, is the first thing read by screen readers, and is used by people and search engines to determine the content of the page. Because the page title is read on each page, it should be short (generally no more than a few words). The site name and other information may be included in the page title if it is succinct and informative (e.g., "Acme, Inc.: Order Form")
Providing a descriptive, succinct page title is important for accessibility. The page title (usually appears at the very top of the browser window) is the first thing seen by sighted users, is the first thing read by screen readers, and is used by people and search engines to determine the content of the page. Because the page title is read on each page, it should be short (generally no more than a few words). The site name and other information may be included in the page title if it is succinct and informative (e.g., "Acme, Inc.: Order Form")
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)