23 April 2008
The local government Society of IT Management (Socitm) has recently published a report on website accessibility which included an overview of the five most common accessibility errors.
According to the report the society estimates that these five errors account for 76% of all website accessibility failures. They are:
1. No Alternative Text For Images.
Providing alternative text for images is one of the most important accessibility issues to address. Images are often used to provide a user with important information that is typically not conveyed with plain text.
2. Is The Inappropriate Use Of JavaScript.
JavaScript can enhance the user experience, but when used incorrectly they can cause a document to become dependent on the scripting. Simple and straightforward tasks will often become overcomplicated and unsupported by some user’s technology.
3. And 4. Errors In Simple And Complex Data Tables.
Using data tables for the structure and layout of a page will often impact all users by increasing the page weight and maintenance time required to change multiple elements.
5. The Use Of Features With A lack Of Accessible Alternatives.
When technology such as Flash and JavaScript are used, it is important to ensure that they are accessible within themselves. In some cases users of older technologies, which do not fully support such features, will require an accessible alternative format to be provided.
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