Accessible and Attractive Websites
When we think about highly accessible sites, the first ones that spring to mind are not necessarily fantastic looking examples. Most sites that sport a Bobby AAA or WCAG Level 3-compliant badge also sport a dull interface, unimaginative navigation and are about as attractive as typical ‘baywatch’ baby! This is hardly the kind of thing that you want to show your boss or a prospective client when explaining about the positive aspects of an accessible site.
So, show them the good stuff!
What do we want? More! When do we want it? Now!
There are not that many big corporate sites that have tread on the road to accessibility. Sure, many have made a few token gestures sufficient to pass the automated (and essentially dumb) Bobby Level A test. But there are very few that, ‘push the envelope’ What does this mean? Well, as a basic list, you might expect to see these tactics implemented on a site that meets Bobbly Level A requirements:
- Judicious use of ‘Skip Navigation’ links or careful ordering of content such that navigation does not get in the way of content (the second approach perhaps veers into advanced territory)
- No use of drop-down lists (as in the select tag) for navigation (or if it is used, ensuring that it is activated with a Go button and that a noscript alternative is provided)
- Suitable alt attributes, or blank alt attributes for images when they are not needed
- Sensible link phrases – no ‘click here’ type links; when the user tabs through, each link makes sense in its own right
This is a basic list, but we should follow even more:
- Table-free layouts that work as well on a handheld device as they do a PC or Mac with full colour 15″ monitor
- Use of acronym and abbr elements to clarify abbreviated phrases
- Data tables with the headers and id attributes (making them usable in the likes of Jaws and other screen readers)
- A link to an accessibility statement on the home page
- A link to the site map on every page
- No framed content at all (although CSS could be used to make it appear as such)
…The list could go on. And indeed, we need to ensure at least one more addition — it’s got to look attractive. But actually speaking there are very few sites which have all these ingredients.
Follow by the Examples:
Let us consider the websites of Wired News and ESPN — these two sites have had extensive coverage because they’re big names today. However, despite the very evident use of Web standards for layout, they are still not necessarily totally accessible (for example, if you try to access ESPN on Netscape 4 you don’t get un styled text; instead you’re sent to a page that explains why they’re unwilling to serve content in that basic format).
Anantait
http://www.articlesbase.com/web-design-articles/accessible-and-attractive-websites-572467.html
