Designing an accessible Web site is an excellent means of providing valuable information and easy navigation for all web users. Welcoming existing church members and prospective new members via an accessible Web site is an excellent form of evangelism.
Many of us who are blind or visually impaired use the Internet. Speech technology is available that allows the selective reading of what is on the computer screen. Braille displays contain pins that move up and down to represent dots allowing Braille users the ability to read and print out web site information in Braille. Screen enlargement software makes print easier to read for some people with low vision.
The design of a Web site can make navigation relatively easy or very difficult. Web page design should start with accessibility in mind, defining document structure and adding navigational aids and explanatory information during the design process. Assistive technologies such as screen readers rely on this computer-based information to provide the cues a person with disabilities needs to read and navigate a page easily.
Here are a few ways churches can make their Web site accessible to those with visual disabilities:
- Make sure all links and visual elements have alt tags. Pictures, links and buttons must be labeled with descriptive text so that screen readers can interpret them. A simple description is all that’s needed.
- Avoid vague statements that have no meaning out of context. Links that only say, “Click here” are meaningless to someone who can’t see pictures.
- Avoid excessive use of animations. They tend to slow down older versions of screen readers. Remember, not everyone can afford the latest technology.
- Avoid excessive dependence on the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). It’s a format that can be made accessible, but it takes the latest versions of both screen readers and Adobe Reader to make this possible. Adobe 7 does not work with Windows 98 computers. When using PDF format, make sure that the material itself is properly tagged. Also avoid sending documents in this format that are totally graphical versions (image-only) of text. Image-only files cannot be read by the screen-reading software used by most persons with visual disabilities. For more information on making accessible PDF files go to Access Adobe.
- Providing electronic newsletters in a format that is accessible (if you do not have the latest Adobe Acrobat software or are not familiar with the accessibility features) can be accomplished by offering a newsletter in RTF or HTML format for viewers with visual disabilities, eliminating the majority of navigational road blocks typically encountered with non-accessible PDF files.
- Some tips for creating accessible charts and data tables:
- Don’t use tabs or spacing to create tables. While it might visually look like a table, it will not be recognized as a table by assistive technology and will not be accessible. Simple tables created in Word using Table-Insert-Table are accessible without any modification.
- Complex tables created in Word using Table-Draw Table might not be accessible because they usually have cells of different heights or a varying number of columns per row. There is no function provided in Word to associate the row and column headers for complex tables.
- Add a caption above or below the table to summarize the purpose of the table.
- Do not use patterned backgrounds in tables.
For more information go to Creating accessible Microsoft® Word documents.
- Most screen readers have a key that will locate headings. If you use the style sheet to format the headings, navigation within a web site and text documents becomes a simpler process. The ability to jump from heading to heading allows the reader quick access and less wasted time in trying to locate important information.
- Repeated links that appear on every web page can cause problems if not handled properly. Screen readers read the page as a one-column document. A good way to deal with this is to create a heading that divides the page into sections. The repeated links are put on the left side. A typical heading is placed at the beginning of the right-hand column. The heading is basically used as a column divider or marker. For example, the left side could contain the general links about aspects of the church while a heading on the right might be titled “Programs” with the rest of the page listing and defining those programs.
- Never design a Web page so that the color and size of print is unable to be altered. Print size, colors and contrast are altered for viewing ability based on the viewer’s needs (i.e. a large print user can change a style sheet to more easily read the page and some viewers can better read the page if the monitor is adjusted to black and white viewing, allowing for a higher contrast).
- Navigation is easier for all persons if a “back home” button is added to the bottom of your Web site allowing users to return quickly without hunting for the button on the page.
For more information on Web accessibility go to the Web Accessibility Initiative of the Worldwide Web Consortium.
To check the accessibility of your Web site go to: Web Aim or Content Quality |
