RE: accessible navigation

>
> Though I understand how the client might not agree...
>

How would a client not agree to making their site "better"?  Better for
those with disabilities sure, but also for older users (like their parents
perhaps?), inexperienced users, power users, etc.  Having these links adds
options to each page and improves navigation - remember they don't have to
be <H1>'s here, they could be set (via CSS) as smaller text, similar to
copyright notices and privacy notices at the bottom of each page.

It occurs to me that the "client" has come to you, the "professional"
because they lack the knowledge and experience to do this right - if they
were looking to control the whole shooting match they could go get FrontPage
and muddle through on their own thank you very much.  The fact that they
have not taken this route but have hired you proves that they are willing to
leave the job to an expert (just like I hire an accountant to do my
company's books).  So be the professional expert that you claim to be and
help them understand what is important in developing a web site.  Educate
and Professionaly Advise - trust me, this is what the client really wants!

Explain that navigation is not "part" of a web site, it "IS" the web site.
One of the most frequent comments about why inexperienced or casual users
"hate" the web is that it can sometimes be confusing to get around a web
site, or find what you are looking for.  Having clear, useful, consistant
navigation on each page is a benefit, not an impediment.  Finally, explain
that in reality, sites are not designed so much as they are developed...
houses are not just decorated they too are first designed - some poorly and
some brilliantly.  The "design" aspect is purely subjective - one home owner
may go for glass and chrome and the other for antiques, but a well designed
house can accomodate either comfortably. However, a poorly designed house is
just plain awkward no matter what type of furniture you have...

As always, JMHO

JF

Received on Friday, 12 July 2002 09:22:46 UTC