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Re: Web graphics accessibility

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From: Emma Duke-Williams
Date: May 14, 2007 5:00AM

On 14/05/07, Sawang Srisom < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> It seems to me that many people are frustrated of images when they create an
> accessible website. Some even think that accessible websites cannot contain
> images. I have some easy recommendations as follows (please help me fill in
> more if I have missed any):
>
> 1. For illustration, just provide "alternative text" in the ALT attribute
> (say what the image is about).
With some caveats. E.g. if the site is about Dogs, it might be more
useful to know that it's a labrador, than the fact that it's asleep.
(Unless you've got a site about insomniac dogs!)

> 2. If the image contains a complicated content, provide a longdesc or D
> link (link to a long-description HTML file).

Not forgetting that for many users, an image of something (e.g. a
diagram) might well be an easier way of describing it than text - e.g.
for those who are dyslexic/ the website is in a language that isn't
their first language.
When people suggest the "Some even think that accessible websites cannot contain
images." - it's often worth pointing out the value that images can add
to a site.

As Patrick commented, knowing the user group is vital!

Emma
--
Blog: http://www.tech.port.ac.uk/staffweb/duke-wie/blog/