TheNational Libraryfor the Blind
Designing accessible websites
Joanna Widdows
David Egan
Design For AllAccessible design is good
design for allVisual impairment (VI) and
the Web: VI: a continuum
How do visually impaired people access the web?
MagnificationRefreshable
BrailleSpeech
synthesis
Why Bother?
Social Inclusion Best Value DDA E-Government
Myths and Tips
Text version of site is essential
Good sites can include more than just text
Myths and Tips
Frames must not be used
Give frames titles Use ‘no frames’ version
Myths and Tips
Tables must not be used
Avoid the use of tables for layout
Use necessary markup to describe tables
Myths and Tips
Images must be avoided
Give all images alt text Give imagemaps text links
Myths and Tips
Flash and Javascript must not be used
Offer alternatives for Javascript, applets, flash plug-ins
Myths and Tips
PDF must not be used
Make Access Adobe available for PDF files - http://access.adobe.com/
Myths and Tips
Bobby is all you need
Use Bobby, other tools and human evaluation
More Tips Make the text legible make the design flexible Provide a site map
[preferably at the bottom of the screen]
…and more
Multiple links can make navigation difficult
Make sure links make sense out of context
The proof of the pudding...
Some examples of good and bad
practice
NLB Consultancy
Co-ordinated by Interactive InitiativesInteractive Initiatives
Developing NLB charter mark