Accessible Design Tips & Tricks

A collection of articles and resources to help you find accessible solutions to your web design projects.

1. Accessible HTML/XHTML Forms.
2. Accessible Method of Hiding HTML Content.
3. Contradictions in Accessibility - Keyboard Usage and Tabindex.
4. Creating Accessible JavaScript.
5. Developing sites for users with Cognitive disabilities and learning difficulties.
6. Guidelines for Accessible and Usable Web Sites: Observing Users Who Work With Screen Readers.
7. Making Accessible Menu Tabs.
8. A Review of Free, Online Accessibility Tools.

Accessible HTML/XHTML Forms
Author: Ian Lloyd (Web Standards Project)
Date: May 2004

Features detailed guide for beginner, intermediate, and advanced design levels. Beginner: covers the very basics you should consider if you are to help as many users as possible to interact with you and your web site just as you would like them to. Intermediate: looks at some specific elements that you can add to your forms that will go even further in insuring that your pages are usable and accessible by the widest possible audience. Advanced: the reality is that you can always go that extra mile, and even when you do there may be a few things that can bite you on the bum if you're not looking. In this section we'll try to cover off these aspects in as timely a fashion as possible. Read the full article: Accessible HTML/XHTML Forms.

Accessible Method of Hiding HTML Content
Author: Paul Bowman (WebAIM)
Date: May 2004

Though somewhat rare, there are occasions when the accessibility needs of screen reader users appear to be at odds with the needs of visual users. This kind of conflict occurs when Web developers put form elements inside of a data table matrix, when they want to use images as headings instead of text, and in other situations. Adding extra text helps screen reader users, but can complicate the visual layout, thus reducing understandability. One solution is to use CSS to hide the text from sighted users in a way that is still accessible to screen readers. The details of this technique are discussed, along with the technical reasoning behind it. Read the full article: An Accessible Method of Hiding HTML Content.

Contradictions in Accessibility - Keyboard Usage and Tabindex
Author: Derek Featherstone (WATS.ca)
Date: June 2004

Most standards-based web sites don't need to include tabindex for their links. When they are included along with other techniques such as skip to content links, they can hinder functionality and usability. Read full article: Contradictions in Accessibility - Keyboard Usage and Tabindex.

Creating Accessible JavaScript
Author: Jared Smith (WebAIM)
Date: July 2004

JavaScript allows developers to add interaction and processing functionality to otherwise static Web pages. Though commonly used, JavaScript introduces some unique and challenging accessibility issues. This article presents an overview of JavaScript accessibility as well as advanced techniques and examples of how JavaScript can be used and made natively accessible. Read the full article: Creating Accessible JavaScript

Developing sites for users with Cognitive disabilities and learning difficulties
Author: Roger Hudson, Russ Weakley, and Peter Firminger (JuicyStudio.com)
Date: January 2005

Summary: "When people think about accessibility of web content, there's a tendency to concentrate on people with visual impairments. People with cognitive impairments and learning difficulties are often overlooked.This article by Roger Hudson, Russ Weakley, and Peter Firminger, examines the types of problems visitors may encounter when using the web, with insightful and practical suggestions on how to develop websites that are inclusive for people with cognitive impairments and learning difficulties." Read the full article: Developing sites for users with Cognitive disabilities and learning difficulties.

Guidelines for Accessible and Usable Web Sites: Observing Users Who Work With Screen Readers
Author: Mary Frances Theofanos, National Cancer Institute and Janice (Ginny) Redish, Redish & Associates, Inc.
Date: November-December 2003.

A study that observed users of screen reader assistive technology and made conclusions about accessible design that facilitates access to information. Includes simple and practical design suggestions along with explanations of how these suggestions benefit users. Read the full article: Guidelines for Accessible and Usable Web Sites: Observing Users Who Work With Screen Readers.

Making Accessible Menu Tabs
Author: Webcredible
Date: April 2003

Shows designers how to turn inaccessible menu tabs, like those used by Amazon.com, into accessible tabs and still maintain the look of "tabs" and not boxes or rectangles. Read the full article: CSS and round corners: Making accessible menu tabs.

A Review of Free, Online Accessibility Tools
Author: Peter Blair (WebAIM)
Date: February 2004

Many Web designers, developers, and evaluators are introduced to Web access through accessibility tools. All accessibility tools perform automated checks of Web pages for accessibility issues and all generally have additional features, but each tool targets different audiences. In order to help Web designers, developers, and evaluators choose an appropriate tool for their purposes, this review discusses the general characteristics of accessibility tools, provides a comparison between tools, and offers suggestions as to which tool would be appropriate for different audiences.