Topic

Accessibility Tip

Non-text content

Include a text equivalent for items such as graphic images.

·          Supply alternative text in the Multimedia Options settings when displaying an image.

·          Supply a description on the Description field when using more complex media.

Multimedia files

When uploading multimedia files, choose types of multimedia that support synchronized captioning. Synchronized captioning means that the captions are synchronized with the audio content. When uploading a long audio file, upload the transcript in a separate file immediately above or below the audio file. When uploading a shorter audio file, consider using the Description field for the transcript.

The NationalCenter for Accessible Media has developed an authoring tool, MAGpie, for creating captioned multimedia.

For more information on this visit: http://access.blackboard.com

Color

Design Web pages so that all information that is conveyed with color is also available without color. For example, instead of asking Students to choose between a red button and a green button provide additional information, such as “Select the red button with the word Stop on it.”

Topic

Accessibility Tip

Tables

When data tables are created to upload to a course Web site make sure to identify row and column headers. For data tables that have two or more levels of row or column headers use markup to associate data cells and header cells. Sample code and instructions can be found in the Web Accessibility Initiative HTML techniques documentation. A link for this site can be found at http://access.blackboard.com

Frames

Multiple sets of frames can be confusing to users, whenever possible consider creating pages that do not use frames.

When using multiple frames include text titles that facilitate frame identification. When HTML that uses frames is uploaded verify that those frames are appropriately titled. Make sure that title are appropriate even when the content of the frame changes.

Screen Flicker

Design pages to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz. Be careful not to upload content, particularly multimedia files, that may cause the screen to flicker. This is important when designing or choosing animated gifs, Flash files, DHTML-enabled Web sites, or other dynamic content.

Text only pages

Provide a text-only page with the equivalent information or functions if there is no other way to present the original information in an accessible way. Whenever possible, it is better to make the original content accessible instead of supplementing it with a text-only alternative.

Applets and plug-ins

When uploading files that require plug-ins use the Description field to add a link to download the plug-in. In general, any file type other than HTML or images will require a plug-in.

Please note that although the browser may show these file types seamlessly (without appearing to need a plug-in), the same files may not be visible on user’s computers, this will depend on the software they have installed.

Forms

When creating forms make sure that form elements make sense when read from left to right across the page. It is also important to associate labels with form elements, such as placing the text labels next to text input boxes. Make sure that a form can be filled out and submitted when using only the keyboard, rather than relying on the mouse.

HTML

When uploading Web files that have been authored using another tool (for example, Front Page, Word, Dreamweaver, or HomeSite), it is important to check the accessibility of the pages first. Some tools, such as Bobby and A-Prompt, have accessibility tools built in or available as plug-ins. Links to these tools can be found at http://access.blackboard.com.