Web Corporate Identity Guidelines Accessibility

Design for Accessibility ...

"A Web document is not effective if it is not accessible." 
 Web Design Group, http://www.htmlhelp.com/reference/css/dependence.html, 12 April 2000.

• Checklist
• Useful Web sites 

Accessibility Checklist

There is an increasing obligation for organisations, whether in the private or public sector, to ensure that their information is accessible. The University of Leicester is committed to designing for accessibility. 

Use this checklist to ensure your pages are accessible:

1. Are your pages  W3C Accessibility Priority One compliant?
2. Have you included ALT text for all images and does your ALT text describe the function of the image(s)?
3. Have you used the SUMMARY attribute for tables to state if the table is being used for layout.
4. Make sure your pages can be used quickly. In general more than 10-15 seconds on a 28 K modem link is unacceptable.
5. If you think you must use frames read this, if you still want to use frames use the correct HTML 4.01 Doctype declaration. Remember to provide a NOFRAMES alternative to your site, ensure that all pages are suitably branded and are Internet Code of Practice compliant, consider whether it would be appropriate for them to be indexed,  and apply the W3C Accessibility checklist. Contact the CWIS Officer to check your framed site will be compliant with the Web Corporate Guidelines.
6. Are your pages Style Sheet dependent?
7. Can your target audience find you?

Remember to use the W3C HTML Validaton Service and Bobby. 

Useful Web sites:

• W3C Content Accessibility Guidelines

• DISinHE Resources

• Jakob Nielson's Web site

• A useful guide to writing HTML in a W3C friendly way

• Search Engine Watch

• Web Design Group's Use of ALT text in IMGs

• Web Design Group's Guide to frames usage

• Colour and Vision Database -  the Background Information link on the main page gives useful information about the perception of colour. 

• How Colour Vision Testing Works

• Audit your Web site Design - very useful way to systematically go through your site and get informed about Web design 

Any comments or queries can be sent to cwis@le.ac.uk

Last updated: 27 September  2000
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