Multimedia authoring

Making Your Site Accessible - The Tyranny of Images

Providing ALT text for images is one of the simplest, and most frequently ignored, ways of adding flexibility to a web site.

For various reasons, a significant number of web users browse with text-only browsers or with image-loading turned off. They may be too busy to wait for graphics to load, or just have a slow connection. They may be visually impaired and be relying on screen reading software. They may be using a digital phone device with a small screen - and if all they want is your phone number so they can place that million-dollar order, it would be a shame if they couldn't find it.

Whatever the reason, browsing without images can be an unnecessarily frustrating experience. Many sites are totally unusable without graphics, particularly where navigation relies on them.

There is no doubt images on web pages can be interesting and attractive. They can unify a site, giving it a distinctive look and feel. But are they more important than the users?

It is so easy to add ALT text to graphics and client-side image maps. All you have to do is remember that the ALT text replaces the image.

Unfortunately, when working with graphics, web developers often become totally engrossed in The Design of a site. They are lazy, or they forget (or deliberately exclude) users who will not see the images. It would be a pity if that user with the digital phone and the million-dollar order is forced to leave a site because they can't navigate without ALT text.

Making Your Site Accessible - Navigation Blues

Navigating through a complex site can often be confusing for the user. It is not easy, but providing clear paths to information is critical.

As a web site grows, it becomes more and more difficult to provide the user with clear navigation paths. Site maps and search facilities become important, but basic navigation is still the key to usability.

The developer often knows his site so well that it becomes impossible for him to view it objectively. Unfortunately, deadlines and budgets often mean that usability testing is minimal or non-existent.

Yet, if the user can't find the information they need, the entire site becomes useless to them. So, what do you do if the deadline has passed, the budget has been exceeded, and the site is up without that all-important usability testing? Personally, I would hope I get lots of feedback from the users.

Making Your Site Accessible - The Importance of Feedback

Feedback from users is a critical source of information for web site developers, and should not be ignored.

We have all experienced the problems faced by web users - slow sites that rely on graphics, nifty scripts that crash browsers or just don't work, dead links, confusing navigation, frames that hang around long after you have tried to leave them behind...

Faced with these situations, most users will leave without comment. But a precious few will let you know - if you provide the opportunity.

Unfortunately, some web sites provide no obvious avenue for complaint (or praise). And those that do often receive complaints less than gracefully.

User feedback is a web designer's window to the real world. Since it is impossible to predict the needs of every user:

• Actively solicit feedback from users

• Respond politely, even to rude or angry users

• Seriously consider the possibility that the user might have a legitimate cause for complaint which you can rectify

With good design and a bit of luck, you may even get some positive responses!

Making Your Site Accessible - Essential Links

Links to help you find out how you can check whether your site has problems, why you should ensure accessibility, and how to improve access for all your users.

Bobby

Bobby is an excellent tool for helping you find possible problem areas on your site. As well as checking accessibility, it will report on browser compatibility and produce Lynx-style views of your pages. Use it online, or download the free software for offline use.

Disability Discrimination Act Advisory Notes

Issued by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), these notes outline the legal requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) as it relates to web publishing in Australia.