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Thread: Links to Alternative Versions

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Number of posts in this thread: 7 (In chronological order)

From: Carolyn Dudas
Date: Fri, Sep 12 2014 10:02AM
Subject: Links to Alternative Versions
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I'm looking for some ideas on how best to provide links to alternative
versions of documents. I need to make sure that it makes sense to someone
using a screen reader.



For example, here is one possibility:


<https://psbehrend.psu.edu/sites/default/files/intranet/computer-center/ex
ercise-files/AccessibleWordDocs.docx> Creating Accessible Word Documents
(Word) |
<http://psbehrend.psu.edu/sites/default/files/intranet/computer-center/exe
rcise-files/AccessibleWordDocs-WithChartImages.pdf> PDF



Are there any other ideas?



Thanks.

---------------------------------------------------------

Carolyn Dudas
Web Developer/Information Specialist
Penn State Behrend

Computer Center
4205 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563-1201

Phone: 814-898-6458
Fax: 814-898-6457
Email: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
<http://behrend.psu.edu/>; http://behrend.psu.edu

From: Carolyn Dudas
Date: Fri, Sep 12 2014 11:26AM
Subject: Re: Links to Alternative Versions
← Previous message | Next message →

Let me try again (in plain text format)…

I’m looking for some ideas on how best to provide links to alternative
versions of documents.  I need to make sure that it makes sense to someone
using a screen reader.
 
For example, here is one possibility:
Creating Accessible Word Documents (Word) | PDF 

Are there any other ideas?

Thanks.
---------------------------------------------------------
Carolyn Dudas
Web Developer/Information Specialist
Penn State Behrend
Computer Center
4205 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563-1201

From: Jordan Wilson
Date: Fri, Sep 12 2014 11:47AM
Subject: Re: Links to Alternative Versions
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Carolyn,

Here's a WebAIM article that discusses this specifically:

http://webaim.org/techniques/hypertext/hypertext_links


Scroll down to 'Links to Non-HTML Resources'
Adding an icon is also helpful for sighted users.



On 9/12/14 1:26 PM, "Carolyn Dudas" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

>Let me try again (in plain text format)Š
>
>I¹m looking for some ideas on how best to provide links to alternative
>versions of documents. I need to make sure that it makes sense to someone
>using a screen reader.
>
>For example, here is one possibility:
>Creating Accessible Word Documents (Word) | PDF
>
>Are there any other ideas?
>
>Thanks.
>---------------------------------------------------------
>Carolyn Dudas
>Web Developer/Information Specialist
>Penn State Behrend
>Computer Center
>4205 College Drive
>Erie, PA 16563-1201
>>>

From: John E Brandt
Date: Fri, Sep 12 2014 12:39PM
Subject: Re: Links to Alternative Versions
← Previous message | Next message →

Ditto to Jordan's suggestion.

I always recommend that the embedded link include, to the full extent
possible, a complete explanation of what the link is and where the user is
going to be sent. It often helps to boot up a screen reader and listen to
what your web content sounds like to a screen reader user. Hearing "Link -
PDF", "Link - Word" tells me nothing.

Preferred (probably in an unordered list form):
[Link] Use this link to download and read "Creating Accessible Word
Documents" in MS-Word format[/Link]
[Link] Use this link to download and read "Creating Accessible Word
Documents" in PDF format[/Link]

~j

John E. Brandt
jebswebs: accessible and universal web design,
development and consultation
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
207-622-7937
Augusta, Maine, USA

@jebswebs

-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jordan Wilson
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2014 1:48 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Links to Alternative Versions

Carolyn,

Here's a WebAIM article that discusses this specifically:

http://webaim.org/techniques/hypertext/hypertext_links


Scroll down to 'Links to Non-HTML Resources'
Adding an icon is also helpful for sighted users.



On 9/12/14 1:26 PM, "Carolyn Dudas" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

>Let me try again (in plain text format)Ð
>
>I¹m looking for some ideas on how best to provide links to alternative
>versions of documents. I need to make sure that it makes sense to
>someone using a screen reader.
>
>For example, here is one possibility:
>Creating Accessible Word Documents (Word) | PDF
>
>Are there any other ideas?
>
>Thanks.
>---------------------------------------------------------
>Carolyn Dudas
>Web Developer/Information Specialist
>Penn State Behrend
>Computer Center
>4205 College Drive
>Erie, PA 16563-1201
>>>messages to = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

messages to = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

From: Mallory van Achterberg
Date: Fri, Sep 12 2014 2:11PM
Subject: Re: Links to Alternative Versions
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On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 02:39:36PM -0400, John E Brandt wrote:
> Preferred (probably in an unordered list form):
> [Link] Use this link to download and read "Creating Accessible Word
> Documents" in MS-Word format[/Link]
> [Link] Use this link to download and read "Creating Accessible Word
> Documents" in PDF format[/Link]

That's pretty wordy, though, and kinda faintly suggests that people
have to be told that documents are to be read :P

But I agree it needs to contain full text, or in other words treated
as if the user runs across them as standalone things without context.

_mallory

From: Ryan E. Benson
Date: Fri, Sep 12 2014 2:36PM
Subject: Re: Links to Alternative Versions
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Mallory said
>That's pretty wordy, though, and kinda faintly suggests that people
> have to be told that documents are to be read :P

Concur. I'd argue it should be [link]Creating Accessible Word Docs - PDF
format[/link]

--
Ryan E. Benson

On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 4:11 PM, Mallory van Achterberg <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 02:39:36PM -0400, John E Brandt wrote:
> > Preferred (probably in an unordered list form):
> > [Link] Use this link to download and read "Creating Accessible Word
> > Documents" in MS-Word format[/Link]
> > [Link] Use this link to download and read "Creating Accessible Word
> > Documents" in PDF format[/Link]
>
> That's pretty wordy, though, and kinda faintly suggests that people
> have to be told that documents are to be read :P
>
> But I agree it needs to contain full text, or in other words treated
> as if the user runs across them as standalone things without context.
>
> _mallory
> > > >

From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Mon, Sep 15 2014 4:07AM
Subject: Re: Links to Alternative Versions
← Previous message | No next message

I would propose buttons with icons (or image buttons) using
aria-describedby to point to the name of the file.
something along the lines of
<p id="article1">Creating accessible document in Microsoft Word</p>
<a href="download script" role="button"
aria-describedby="article1"><img src="pth of pdf icon" alt="Download
PDF"></a>

However you do it I the file name needs to be accessible, the word
"download" should be there and the version "PDF, Word etc.".
It is strongly recommended to use visual icons with accessible alt
text or hidden text (alt text does not work if you include the icon as
a CSS .background image and then the equivalent info must be included
in the content or explicit labeling).
Cheers
-B



On 9/12/14, Ryan E. Benson < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Mallory said
>>That's pretty wordy, though, and kinda faintly suggests that people
>> have to be told that documents are to be read :P
>
> Concur. I'd argue it should be [link]Creating Accessible Word Docs - PDF
> format[/link]
>
> --
> Ryan E. Benson
>
> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 4:11 PM, Mallory van Achterberg <
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
>> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 02:39:36PM -0400, John E Brandt wrote:
>> > Preferred (probably in an unordered list form):
>> > [Link] Use this link to download and read "Creating Accessible Word
>> > Documents" in MS-Word format[/Link]
>> > [Link] Use this link to download and read "Creating Accessible Word
>> > Documents" in PDF format[/Link]
>>
>> That's pretty wordy, though, and kinda faintly suggests that people
>> have to be told that documents are to be read :P
>>
>> But I agree it needs to contain full text, or in other words treated
>> as if the user runs across them as standalone things without context.
>>
>> _mallory
>> >> >> >>
> > > >


--
Work hard. Have fun. Make history.