COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN Fall 2002 University of Minnesota, Crookston

1
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• The University of Minnesota has established
  website accessibility standards that we need to
  observe as staff/faculty/students.
• These standards will serve us well in any
  technical communication job.

2
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• It is the responsibility of the Web page author
  to present information in a manner that ensures
  access by a diverse audience.
• See http//cap.umn.edu/ait/Web/index.html for a
  full discussion of the standards outlined here.

3
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Introductory Screens
• Put some some text on the initial screen view of
  a Web page that describes the affiliation and
  purpose of the page.

4
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Design Consistency
• Use a consistent look and navigational scheme for
  all pages of a site.
• Provide a method that permits users to skip
  repetitive navigation controls and jump to the
  main content of a page.

5
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Document Length
• Present large documents in smaller sub-units
  where natural and appropriate.
• Offer complete full-length versions for download.
  

6
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Frames
• Avoid the use of frames.
• Title frames with text that facilitates frame
  identification and navigation.
• Use the HTML element to point to an
  alternate page that does not use frames.

7
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Browser-Specific HTML Tags
• Do not use HTML constructs (tags) that are
  specific to (and only supported by) one browser.

8
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Cascading Style Sheets
• Organize documents so they are readable without
  requiring an associated style sheet.

9
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Scripts
• Ensure that pages are usable when scripts,
  applets, or other programmatic objects are not
  supported or have been disabled.
• Provide equivalent information and/or
  functionality on an alternative accessible page
  when direct access cannot be achieved.

10
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Roll-Over Controls
• Do not use roll-over controls that load a new
  page or otherwise move the user from the current
  location.
• Do not use the "onChange" event-handler in a
  drop-down list.
• Include text descriptions and redundant links for
  pop-up information and menus.

11
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Screen Refresh
• Avoid the automatic refreshing of a page.
• Provide a method for disabling the automatic
  refreshing of a page.

12
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Timed Responses
• Alert users when a timed response is required and
  provide one or more of the following options
• A method for indicating that more time is needed.
• A method for the user to adjust the time
  interval.
• A non-time-dependent alternative.

13
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002 University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Font (face, size, color)
• Do not use font face, size, or color alone to
  convey information.
• Specify font sizes in relative rather than
  absolute units.

14
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Backgrounds and Wallpapers
• Do not use complex backgrounds or wallpaper that
  may interfere with the readability of overlying
  text.
• Do not use backgrounds or wallpaper to convey
  information.

15
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Blinking Elements and Marquees
• Avoid blinking page elements and scrolling
  marquees.
• Blinking page elements and the refreshing of the
  screen to animate marquees shall do so at a
  frequency of less than twice a second (2 Hz) or
  greater than 55 times a second (55 Hz).

16
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Precede the first occurrence of an acronym on a
  page with the full title to which the acronym
  refers.
• Avoid the use of acronyms and abbreviations in
  link text.
• Do not use acronyms and abbreviations in the
  alternative text for images or other non-text
  elements.

17
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD Bullets
• Provide appropriate alternative text for
  graphical bullets.
• Use simple alternative text for graphical
  bulletsan asterisk (), a single letter (A) or
  single number(1).
• Unless required to convey information visually
  depicted by a bullet, avoid alternative text that
  describes the bullet (e.g., "This is a small
  black ball").

18
COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
Crookston

• STANDARD List Tags
• When bullets created using the
  list tag are
  important for comprehension of the document or
  numbered bullets created using the
  list tag
  are to be referenced elsewhere in the document,
  include additional markup that promotes
  accessibility.
  
  19
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Punctuation
  • Titles, headings, list items, sentences, and ALT
    tags should end with suitable punctuation.
  • Include closing punctuation on list items, even
    if the items are not grammatical sentences.
  
  20
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Multiple-Column Layout
  • Avoid the use of multiple-column layouts for
    non-tabular information.
  • Do not use the tag (preformatted) to layout
    tabular information.
  • Include row and column headers for data tables.
  • Ensure that information in a multi-column format,
    whether static or dynamically generated, is
    accessible, or provide an alternative means of
    acquiring the information.
  
  21
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD ALT Tags
  • Include alternative text for all graphics.
  
  22
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Non-Link Graphics
  • Make alternative text for images that convey
    information or otherwise contribute to the
    understanding of the page clear, concise, and
    informative.
  • Where appropriate, use the alternative text for
    transparent graphics and other structural images
    to provide a description of subsequent
    information and controls on the page.
  
  23
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Tables and Charts
  • Provide accessible text descriptions for
    graphical tables and charts.
  
  24
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Animations
  • Include alternative text for all animations.
  • Make alternative text for animations clear,
    concise, and informative.
  • If an animation uses audio to convey information,
    provide a text equivalent of the audio portion.
  
  25
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Text Links
  • Avoid the use of single-word linksmake links
    shall be clear, descriptive, and able to stand
    alone.
  • Give preference to vertical lists of well-spaced
    text links.
  • Make links listed horizontally or in a multiple
    column layout visually distinct and separated by
    appropriate punctuation or graphics.
  • Avoid enclosing text links in brackets, braces,
    parentheses, or other punctuation.
  
  26
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Mailto Links
  • Include the E-mail address in the text of a
    mailto link.
  
  27
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Graphical Links
  • Include clear, concise and informative
    alternative text for all non-text controls.
  • Use 36-pt by 36-pt or larger buttons and icons.
  
  28
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Image Maps
  • Include clear, concise and informative
    alternative text for each region of a client-side
    image map.
  • Avoid the use of server-side image maps.
  • Include alternative links for each active region
    of a server-side image map.
  
  29
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Forms
  • Do not use font styles, sizes, colors or other
    non-textual elements as the only means of
    indicating required fields.
  • Indicate alternatives to completing online forms.
  
  30
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Multimedia
  • Accompany multimedia presentations with text
    and/or audio descriptions of visual content.
  • Accompany audio presentations with text
    captioning.
  • Synchronize the equivalent accessible
    alternatives for a multimedia presentation (e.g.,
    text captioning and/or audio description) with
    the presentation.
  • Provide a link to the plug-in or applet required
    for a multimedia presentation.
  
  31
  COMPOSITION 2334 UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTIONAL
  DESIGNFall 2002  University of Minnesota,
  Crookston
  • STANDARD Downloads
  • Include the following options for information
    presented in a proprietary file format
  • The information in an alternative accessible
    format.
  • A link to the appropriate plug-in.
  • A link to an accessibility plug-in or conversion
    site, if available.
  • An alternative means of obtaining the
    information.
  • When feasible, make information to be downloaded
    available in a variety of file types.
  
  32
  Links
  • http//www.e-accessibility.com
  • http//www.visugate.org
  • http//www.tate.org.uk/imap
  • http//www.imsproject.org/accessibility/accessible
    vers
  • http//www.ifeelpixel.com/download