Web Accessibility Tip: Text Readability

Keep the following guidelines in mind for displaying text:

• Avoid very small text. This not only impacts some users with low vision, but many users with cognitive disabilities as well.
• While serif fonts (e.g., Times) are more readable when printed, both serif and sans-serif fonts are appropriate when displaying body text onscreen, as long as the font is clean and readable.
• Underlined text should be avoided, except to designate links.
• Minimize the number of different fonts used on a page. Two to three fonts is optimal.
• ALL CAPS should be used minimally. It is more difficult to read and is often interpreted as "shouting". Additionally, screen readers may read all-caps text letter by letter (like an acronym) rather than as full words.

Financial Fitness Day

Financial Fitness Day is sponsored by the Seattle King County Asset Building Collaborative. Our partners at the Washington Access Fund is a member of the collaborative and a partner in this exciting event! So come join them on March 31st from 10:00am to 2:00pm at Rainier Community Center in Seattle 
Whether you want to open a personal account with a bank or credit union, talk to a financial planner about preparing for retirement, discover how to save more money and create a budget, talk to a credit counselor about your credit report, learn how to start your own business, get help with your tax preparation or student aid application, or talk to a housing counselor about your mortgage or buying a home— you will find the help you need today.
The Collaborative will have three ASL (and tactile) interpreters but if someone needs an interpreter,  it would be helpful if they registered at:  http://www.skcabc.org/​​​​​​​fitness_​​fair/registration.​​​​​​​php.

Web Accessibility Tip: Use True Text

True text has several advantages over graphical text and should be used whenever possible. True text is easier to read, especially if it is enlarged. The user can more easily customize the appearance of the text to make it more readable (changing color, size, font, etc.). File size is typically smaller for true text and it can be translated into other languages.

WCAG 2.0 Level AA requires that if the same presentation can be accomplished using true text, then you must use true text rather than an image of text. Level AAA requires that text cannot generally be used within images at all.

Web Accessibility Tip: Voice Control Software and Image Alternative Text

To activate links on a page, users of voice control software, such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking, speak the visible link text. When an image is linked, the alternative text of that image can be spoken to activate that link. When an image presents graphical text, the alternative text of the image should match the visible text to ensure voice control software users can easily activate that link.

Evaluating Alternative Text

When evaluating the alternative text of images, remember that the alternative text (whether in the image's alt attribute or in adjacent text) should convey the content and function of an image. Asking the question, "If the image could not be used, what text would replace the image?" is often a good way to determine appropriate alternative text. First, view the alternative text along with the image. Is the alternative text equivalent to the content of the image? Second, disable images and view the alternative text in place of the image and consider if the alternative text makes sense in its context and reading position within the page.

Smoke Alarms for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Seattle Residents

Free strobe smoke alarm

The Seattle Fire Department is providing and installing Gentex strobe smoke alarms that plug into an outlet. There is no cost for the smoke alarm or installation. A working smoke alarm is known to reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 50%. The Seattle Fire Department is requesting your assistance in getting the word out to help make Seattle residents who are deaf or hard of hearing safer, should they experience a fire at home. 

To qualify, a person must be Deaf or Hard of Hearing and live in Seattle. Renters need permission from landlords before they can be installed.

Any Seattle resident who might be interested in a free Deaf/HOH smoke alarm, should contact Seattle Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division.