Our clients, particularly when starting new projects often ask us about DDA compliance.
So, what are the minimum requirements and ongoing commitments to achieve and self certify a AA rating for your website?
Consider the visitor to your website
For those unfamiliar with accessibility
issues pertaining to Web page design, consider that many users may be
operating in contexts very different from your own:
• They may not be able to see, hear, move, or may not be able to process some types of information easily or at all.
• They may have difficulty reading or comprehending text.
• They may not have or be able to use a keyboard or mouse.
• They may have a text-only screen, a small screen, or a slow Internet connection.
• They may not speak or understand fluently the language in which the document is written.
• They may be in a situation where their eyes, ears, or hands are
busy or interfered with (e.g., driving to work, working in a loud
environment, etc.).
• They may have an early version of a
browser, a different browser entirely, a voice browser, or a different
operating system.
This document aims to provide useful
impartial guidance on the application of the W3C Accessibility
Initiative which summarises DDA compliance for your website development
and content.
Your website architecture and content for DDA compliance
Here are some helpful pointers that have been taken from the W3C Accessibility Initiative that you can use as a quick reference guide to understand the implications of seeking AA level compliance. These and can also be viewed at: http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref
Text
• All text should be of a suitable contrast to their background – for AA a ratio of 3:1
• All text where possible should be resizable without the use of particular technology (the web browser)
• All text should be used without any graphic images and as system fonts, except where it is essential for the brand (for example the logo)
• The site should be written in plain, simple English
Images, Video and animations
• No use of Flash
• All images to have alt tag information
• There should be no uninitiated movement – therefore any animations must be started by the user
• All videos should have suitable captions and provide all spoken words in written format as an alternative. Where possible this includes a narrative of the video visual content
Navigation
• The site should be able to be navigated with simple keyboard/spoken commands (therefore we cannot apply critical effects or functionality on hover/rollover), this also effects the use of content applied in the lightbox style container (screen darkens and content appears in new window)
• The website should not open any new windows, without explicit direction, therefore external links should open in the same window, again this applies to lightbox style content
• Colour should not be used to distinguish navigation or content (effectively the website should be fully useable in greyscale/monochrome
• The site must be fully useable with JavaScript disabled
Other
• All pages to have a Meta description to summarise the page content
• The site will be built adhering to all technical requirements, such as style sheets (CSS), validating HTML at time of handover/project completion etc
• The site should not require any horizontal scrolling, unless alternatives have been provided.