| Universal Design |
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Maintain a standard page layout throughout
the site. |
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Use plain backgrounds and simple layouts
to improve the readability of text. |
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Provide a text-only index of your site. |
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Include textual as well as graphical
navigation aids. |
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Do not abbreviate dates; e.g., use December
1, 1996 rather than 12/1/96. |
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Test your web pages with a variety of
web browsers, including graphical browsers with the
images turned off and a text-based browser, if possible. |
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Avoid/Limit the use of HTML tags or extensions
which are supported by only one browser. |
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Check images at different resolutions
and color depths. |
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Hyperlinks to downloadable files should
include a text description that includes the file size
and file type. |
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Consider the development of a text-only
version of the document or site to facilitate access
not only by people with visual impairments, but users
of non-graphical browsers or slow Internet connections |
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| Text-Based Design |
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End all sentences, headers, list items,
etc. with a period or other suitable punctuation. |
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Avoid/Limit using side by side presentation
of text, e.g., columns and tables; Consider using preformatted
text which is available in all versions of HTML and
can be displayed with all type of browsers. |
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Provide alternate versions of forms;
alternatives might include a simple list or paragraph
of what is needed to submit a form entry and then provide
a link to a mailto: feature or simply an appropriate
e-mail address to send the text. |
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Minimize the number of hyperlinks that
appear in a single line of text - one hyperlink is best;
consider using vertical lists for links wherever possible. |
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Avoid/Limit the use of bitmap images
of text. |
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Consider beginning lists with a descriptive
identifier and the number of items so the users will
have an idea of what the list represents and the total
length of the list. Using numbers instead of bullets
will also help the user to remember items that interest
them. |
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Provide meaningful and descriptive text
for hyperlinks, don't use short hand, e.g. "click
here." (Screen readers can search specifically
for linked text; "click here" provides no
indication of where the link will take them.) If documents
are provided in a specialized format (e.g. PDF, etc.)
provide the equivalent text in ASCII or HTML format.
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| Graphics and Images |
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Keep the number of colors in your images
to a minimum. |
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Minimize the file size and number of
images you display on any one page. |
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Design your background image at the lowest
color depth and resolution you can. |
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Ensure that text can always be clearly
read at any location against the background. |
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Avoid/Limit using image maps; provide
an alternate text-based method of selecting options
when image maps are used, e.g., separate HTML page or
menu bar. |
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Use the [ALT] option within image tags
to provide associated text for all images, pictures
and graphical bullets. |
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Consider using described images: provide
a hyperlink (the capital letter D is being used at various
sites) to a short paragraph describing the image. |
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If image files are used for graphical
bullets in place of standard HTML, it is best to use
a bullet character like an asterisk " * "
or "o" in the ALT = text field of the <IMG>
tag (rather than describing the bullet as: "This
is a small purple square"). |
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| Audio/Visual Features |
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Provide text transcriptions of all video
clips. |
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If possible include captions or text
tracts with a description or sounds of the movie. |
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Provide descriptive passages about speakers
and events being shown through video clips. |
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Give a written description of any critical
information that is contained in audio files contained
on your web site. |
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If you link to an audio file, inform
the user of the audio file format and file size in kilobytes. |
