Section 5.3: Conducting Accessibility Evaluations and Testing, Part 1

Things to Consider in conducting your Automated and Manual evaluation

1. What accessibility guidelines/standards is your project using?
   The three major ones are:
   • Section 508
     www.section508.gov
   • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
     www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT
   • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (Future standard)
2. Are there areas of concern that you want to specifically check?
   Common areas to target in an evaluation are:
   • Images and animations: Use the alt attribute to describe the function of each visual.
   • Image maps. Use the client-side map and text for hotspots.
   • Multimedia. Provide captioning and transcripts of audio and descriptions of video.
   • Hypertext links. Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example, avoid "click here."
   • Page organization. Use headings, lists, and consistent structure. Use CSS for layout and style where possible.
   • Graphs and charts. Summarize or use the longdesc attribute.
   • Scripts, applets, & plug-ins. Provide alternative content in case active features are inaccessible or unsupported.
   • Frames. Use the noframes element and meaningful titles.
   • Tables. Make line-by-line reading sensible. Summarize.
   • Validate. Use tools, checklist, and guidelines.

The W3C put together the previous list as "Quick Tips" to consider in designing for accessibility. [ 3 ]These same areas can be used to help identify target areas in an accessibility evaluation. Some of these areas we have covered in more detail within the previous lessons of this tutorial.