HTML and CSS Reference
In-Depth Information
The other parts of a Web form should comply with other Section 508 standards. For
example, if you use a table to lay out the elements of a form, make sure that the form still
makes sense when the table is linearized.
Links
It is common for Web designers to place links at the top, bottom, and sides of every
page in their Web sites. This is generally a good idea, because those links enable users to
move quickly and easily through a site. However, this technique can make it diffi cult to
navigate a page using a screen reader, because screen readers move through a page from
the top to bottom, reading each line of text. Users of screen readers may have to wait
several minutes before they even get to the main body of a page, and the use of repeti-
tive links forces such users to reread the same links on each page as they move through a
site. To address this problem, the Section 508 guidelines state that
§1194.22 (o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive
navigation links.
One way of complying with this rule is to place a link at the very top of each page
that allows users to jump to the page's main content. In order to make the link unobtru-
sive, it can be attached to a transparent image that is one pixel wide by one pixel high.
For example, the following code lets users of screen readers jump to the main content of
the page without needing to go through the content navigation links on the page; how-
ever, the image itself is invisible to other users and so does not affect the page's layout or
appearance.
<a href=”#main”>
ƒƒƒ<img src=”spacer.gif” height=”1” width=”1” alt=”Skip to main
content” />
</a>
...
<a name=”main”> </a>
page content goes here …
One advantage to this approach is that a template can be easily written to add this
code to each page of the Web site.
Timed Responses
For security reasons, the login pages of some Web sites automatically log users out after
a period of inactivity, or if users are unable to log in quickly. Because disabilities may
prevent some users from being able to complete a login procedure within the prescribed
time limit, the Section 508 guidelines state that
§1194.22 (p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given
suffi cient time to indicate that more time is required.
The guideline does not suggest a time interval. To satisfy Section 508, your page
should notify users when a process is about to time out and prompt users whether addi-
tional time is needed before proceeding.
