Accessibility features

Hi all

I've been asked to provide input on the following statement:

"Banner Self-Service Web pages may include one or many of the following
accessibility features: 
*  ALT text for icons 
*  Bubble text for icons and some links 
*  Page footer links to help navigate 
*  Invisible skip links specifically for screen readers to jump to main
content 
*  Back to top links which allow the user to jump back to start of main
content 
*  Site Map that helps users understand the information architecture at
a glance 
*  Increase text size using the view pulldown menu found in Internet
Explorer Web Browser 
*  Access keys for navigation links: Site Map = ALT+2, Help = ALT+H, and
ALT+3 = Exit"

I know that each of these generate all kinds of discussion, but what
specific concerns are there and what text in the above statement should
be added or deleted? I've already provided the following: 

ALT text for icons should be provided only if it's not redundant or if
the icon/graphic is merely decorative.  Assuming we have control over
this, if there's already a text link after or before the icon, the alt
attribute should be set thusly: alt = " "  This is so that a screen
reader will not read the name of the icon, which is likely to be some
long nonsensical name. As for the statement, something like the
following would suffice:  "ALT text is provided when it is informative
and not redundant."

I don't understand the term "bubble text", could you please explain? Or
provide me a page with an example?

Page footer links to help navigate  - could be useful, generally doesn't
get in the way

Invisible skip links specifically for screen readers to jump to main
content  - absolutely a very essential feature

Back to top links which allow the user to jump back to start of main
content - probably useful, generally doesn't get in the way

Site Map that helps users understand the information architecture at a
glance - probably useful

Increase text size using the view pulldown menu found in Internet
Explorer Web Browser - this is actually not a feature of a website, it's
a feature in IE. Pointing out that it's available is great, but it
should be the last item on the list, and should be worded "Web browsers
allow users to adjust text size using the view pulldown menu"
 
Access keys for navigation links: Site Map = ALT+2, Help = ALT+H, and
ALT+3 = Exit  - there is debate over the use of Access keys, let me look
into this further, and get back to you.

So, if you could comment on the statement and/or what I provided, that
would be wonderful. Bear in mind that at this time we have limited
control over what is or isn't actually provided, this is part of an
SCT/Luminus portal implementation.  

Thank you very much.

Janet Perkins Corbett
Wyoming INstitute for Disabilities
http://wind.uwyo.edu/  
(307)766-2506
perky@uwyo.edu

Don't SAY things. What you ARE stands over you the while, and thunders
so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Received on Saturday, 28 January 2006 02:33:00 UTC