AU Accessible Web

Web Templates

AU Web developers are encouraged to start with an AU Accessible Web Template. These templates are designed to comply with the the Section 508 Guidelines, and the W3C Standards related to XHTML and CSS.

Select a template below to preview the template, download the template files, and to access the instructions for that template.

AU Template 1	AU Template 2	AU Template 3

Template 1 and Template 2 are available as XHTML with a Table-based Layout and XHTML with a CSS-based Layout. Take advantage of the benefits related to accessibility, forward compatibility, and more using the CSS-based Layout version.

[Top]

Accessible Web Guidelines

Below are some tips to help AU Web Developers create Accessible Websites:

• Images: Use descriptive alt tags on all graphic images.

• Charts and Images: Represent information by including the longdesc attribute.

• Layout: Be consistent throughout the website.

• Links: Be descriptive and meaningful. Avoid "click here".

• Forms: Use a logical tab order. (i.e. First Name should tab to Last Name)

• Color Contrast: Keep background patterns simple. Use backgrounds that contrast your text. Backgrounds and text that are close in color value create a low contrast and are difficult for people with low vision.

• Tables: Use the table summary or caption attributes to provide an introductory explanation of the table. Use the header attribute to help retain relational information in tables.

• Frames: Provide a title for each frame element and frame page.

• Multimedia: Provide captioning or transcripts for audio and video files.

• Downloads: Provide downloadable files in alternative formats.

• Page Organization: Use Cascading Style sheets (CSS) when possible for style. Use relative font sizes when using CSS so low vision users can adjust front sizes while browsing.

• Access Keys: Use Access Keys to improve navigation for screen readers.

[Top]