Re: text reader question

Hi Paul

The use of a transparent 1x1 pixel GIF with appropriate ALT text as a
link to "skip navigation" or "skip to content" works well.  I work at
the Royal National Institute of the Blind in the UK, advising companies
and organisations on how to make their websites more accessible to
people with disabilities, and this is something I often find myself
suggesting.  It provides a quick way for those using text / speech /
braille output to go straight to the content on the page, without
affecting the visual positioning of the navigation.  A standard "Back to
top" link at the end of the content, or a similarly "hidden" "Skip to
navigation menu" link at the end of the content will provide those users
with a quick way back to the menu (though if the menu is at the start of
the page, they can do that just as easily using their browser / screen
reader "return to top of page" command).  From conversations I've had
with screen reader users, this technique is generally well received and
appreciated.

HTH...

Regards,
Donna

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Crichton <pcrichton(at)netphysic.com>
To: <hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 10:10 AM
Subject: text reader question


>
> Hi folks
>
> Quick question.  I'm building a website to a Graphic Designers spec,
and
> they have all the navigation at the top of the page.  This could be up
to
> 20-odd links.  Its my understanding that reader software for the
visually
> impaired community normally goes from top down.  I've seen a couple of
sites
> with 'skip navigation' anchors to avoid having to read the links (and
vice
> versa at the foot of the page).  I thought this would be quite good to
> implement.  The graphic designers, however, weren't so keen on having
that
> on the page, and I have to admit the majority of users would probably
wonder
> what it is for anyway.  I've been asked if I could use a transparent
gif
> with alt text saying 'click here to go to the content' or not.  It
sounds
> like a winner, but I wanted to know it is from anybody has more
experience
> of how text readers work, and whether this really would be of value to
> visually impaired users.
>
> Any pearls of wisdom as ever appreciated!
>
> Cheers
>
> Paul
>
>

HWG hwg-techniques mailing list archives, maintained by Webmasters @ IWA