Comparing the "Before" and "After" Pages

Revising for Accessibility,
HigherEdWeb Conference, August '00

 
  "Before" "After"
Page title

In "before.htm":

<TITLE> tags are not used.

In "after.htm":

<TITLE> tags used.

Color scheme

In "before.htm":

Colors are set using attributes in the <BODY> tag and applicable <TD> tags.

In "after.htm":

Colors are set using a style sheet.

Top navigation bar and page heading

In "before.htm":

  • Navigation bar and heading are combined into one image.
  • No text alternative used to identify the image.
  • No text alternative for image map's links.

In "after.htm":

  • Navigation bar, heading and envelope icon are separate images, aligned using a table.
  • Images given text alternatives, using the ALT=" " attribute in the <IMG ...> tags.
  • Text alternatives added to the image map's links, using the ALT=" " attribute in the <AREA ...> tags.
Form

In "before.htm":

  • Captions for several text boxes are placed after the box.
  • Captions and boxes for the user's name are aligned using a table, further separating the caption from where the user must enter information.

In "after.htm":

  • Captions have been placed immediately before the related text box.
  • <LABEL FOR=" "> tags and ID=" " attributes have been added to the form element tags to further connect the captions and boxes.
  • Default values have been added to the text boxes as an additional way to tell users what information to enter where.
  • Added TABINDEX=" " attributes to form elements to specify the navigation order for people using the Tab key instead of a mouse.
Table(s)

In "before.htm":

  • Row headings marked visually, using <B> tags, rather than structurally, using the <TH> tag
  • Nested table used to align some text boxes and their captions.

In "after.htm":

  • Row headings are marked structurally, using the <TH> tag.
  • Nested table replaced by simpler vertical format.
  • SUMMARY=" " attribute added to the opening <TABLE> tag to clarify the purpose of the table
Bottom navigation buttons and PUNY logo

In "before.htm":

No text alternatives for the images.

In "after.htm":

Images given text alternatives, using the ALT=" " attribute in the <IMG ...> tags.


Kathy Farrell
SUNY Empire State College
kfarrell@esc.edu