Universal Design for the Web

 The guidelines below apply this concept to web page design. Following them will ensure that your Web pages accessible to the widest possible range of users.

Not all web page visitors are using the standard graphical browsers. They may using adaptive technologies such as screen readers or text-based browsers, have their browser graphics turned off, or may not be able to use, or have access to a mouse or keyboard. Some users also have physical or cognitive disabilities that impact their use of a Web page.

 Universal Design not only ensures that your information will be accessible to people with various types of disabilities, but also to those using old, alternate, or emerging technologies.

 For more detailed information, consult the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative's (WAI) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 for Page Authoring.

Web Accessibility Principles

The links below will take you to the W3C's Web Accessibility Content Guidelines, the definitive resource for Web accessiblity issues or information. Following these guidelines will satisfy minimal accessibility standards for your Web page. 

The most important points to remember in making your pages accessible are:

• Follow current web standards;HTML 4.0, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS1)
• Images & animations. Use the alt attribute to describe the function of all visuals.
• Image maps. Use client-side MAP and text for hotspots.
• Multimedia. Provide captioning and transcripts of audio, and descriptions of video.
• Hypertext links. Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example, avoid "click here."
• Page organization. Use headings, lists, and consistent structure. Use CSS for layout and style where possible.
• Graphs & charts. Summarize or use the longdesc attribute.
• Scripts, applets, & plug-ins. Provide alternative content in case active features are inaccessible or unsupported.
• Frames. Use NOFRAMES and meaningful titles.
• Tables. Make line by line reading sensible. Summarize.
• Check your work. Validate using the W3C's HTML Validation Service and the Bobby Accessibility Checker. Test on a variety of platforms (UNIX, Windows, MAC) and browsers (Netscape 3 & 4, IE 5, lynx). Use tools, checklist, and guidelines at www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT.
• Refer to the WAI Guidelines when in doubt.

Reference

• World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
• CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media
• Trace Research and Development Center
• WebABLE!
• HTML Writers Guild AWARE Center
• DO-IT