The National Federation of the Blind provides guidelines to ensure maximum accessibility and usability to web pages for persons who are blind. A summary of these suggestions follows:
1. Avoid the use of multi-column presentations or tables.
Multi-column text or HTML tables make the page difficult or impossible to read with most access technology for the blind. A major problem is that, unless otherwise instructed to do so, this technology reads one entire line at a time across multiple columns instead of reading each column separately.
A major problem is that this technology, unless otherwise instructed to do so, reads one entire line at a time across multiple columns instead of reading each column separately.
2. When encoding hypertext links on your web page, enough words in the link must be included so that it can stand alone
When browsing a web page using speech or Braille access technology, the Tab or Shift-Tab keys are used to move from link to link.
When links read "click here," "this," or "click this," the page may be difficult to comprehend by the blind user.
It is helpful, therefore, when the link text can stand on its own. For instance, a word or phrase that describes the purpose of the link is very helpful.
3. Separate adjacent links
Hypertext links are typically indicated visually with highlighting. The blind user needs to know which pieces of text are in hypertext links and which are not because if two adjacent links are separated only by a carriage return, some screen access programs will incorrectly treat these as a single link.
4. Alternative, short text descriptions should be provided for all images
Blank characters, images, or bullets can be used but should not be placed next to a carriage return. It is important to use textual descriptions or identification to learn the meaning of a graphic.
5.Avoid using images as hypertext links.
Images are difficult for visually impaired and impossible for blind so don't use them as hypertext links. (2)