[jaws-uk] Re: Website Difficulties
- From: Léonie Watson <tink@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jaws-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 14:51:33 -0000
Darran,
To really make this website accessible, a redesign will be needed.
When the time comes for the site to be updated, the developer will need to
consider accessibility carefully from the outset. There are some quick wins
that will help in the meantime though.
1. Use headings.
Headings, as you'll know, provide a means of understanding how
information is structured on a page. Screen reader users can also use
headings to navigate around a page.
On the web page you provided, the first heading would include the
welcome text that appears towards the top of the page. The code would look
something like this:
<h1>WELCOME TO THE SKY + FAN CONTROLLER WEBSITE</h1>
2. Use lists.
Where groups of items on a page, for example navigation links, are
placed close together, it is useful to define them as a list. This helps
people understand that there is a relationship between the items, determine
how many items there are in the group and of course, gives screen reader
users another navigation technique.
Try the following practical article for guidance on using headings
and lists:
http://www.nomensa.com/resources/articles/web-development-articles/headings-
and-lists--are-you-using-them-correctly.html
3. Use alternative text.
None of the images on the site have an alternate text. The text is
provided using the alt attribute within the web page code, for example:
<img src="red-bike.gif" alt="Shiny red bicycle, leaning against a wall" />
If the image is used to display a product, then the alt text should
briefly summarise what can be seen in the picture. If the image contains
text, the alt text should include exactly the same text. If the image has a
purpose, for example to indicate a move to another page, then the alt text
should reflect this purpose.
Guidance on writing alt text can be found in the following article:
http://www.nomensa.com/resources/articles/accessibility-articles/this-isnt-j
ust-alt-text-this-is-really-great-alt-text.html
When the site is redesigned, the developer should aquaint himself
with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines:
http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/
The following websites are excellent forums and resources for
getting started with web accessibility. They should help the developer
understand what needs to be done.
Accessify:
http://www.accessify.com/
Building Accessible Websites:
http://joeclark.org/book/sashay/serialization/
Regards,
Léonie.
-----Original Message-----
From: jaws-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jaws-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Darran Ross
Sent: 03 January 2008 20:02
To: Jaws-UK
Subject: [jaws-uk] Website Difficulties
Hi List.
I'd really appreciate some help with this one.
I'm using the latest JFW, and I'm getting nowhere in a hurry with the
following site;
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/skyplusfancontroller/
I just get lots of autoimages by way of links and its a case of hitting each
one I come to to try and navigate my way through this minefield!
I've found a link somewhere - don't ask me where - to contact the site
owner, and I'd like to do this with some constructive criticisms about how
he might improve his site for screen readers, if he's at all interested in
doing that of course!
I need someone who knows about these things to give me a couple of technical
points I could make in the hope that he's receptive to possible
improvements.
Thanks to anyone who can make suggestions on improving this unfriendly DIY
site.
Regards.
Darran
darran.ross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
Other related posts:
