Accessibility101

Too general and far ranging a question, elaborate a little?

Have to admit as a web site promoting web page accessibility I thought that hiding skip links with display none was frowned upon by the accessibility standanistas.

I was surprised by by the use of the fieldset tag to supply styling , don't think I've seen that before and not really sure that 'fieldset' is meant to be used outside of it's parent 'form' element.

Hugo.

I assume this is meant to be ironic. (Maybe by assume, I mean "hope".)

Anyway... for an accessibility site, woah. Conduct an accessibility audit on your site, and you'll have a whole list of things to do. Since you offer all that advice, you ought to know what you're doing.

Yes - both elements will be coming out in the redesign - I was told of this on other forums. I know it's about web accessibility but it's a hobby site - so lets not be too brutal please!

I'm here for help!

mainly I want to know if I'm using things as they should be used for.

Things you've used in the wrong context:

fieldsets/legends - these are for forms, not marking up lists.

h1 - overused. Use one for main section, then h2, h3 etc. to convey meaning as the page is navigated and read.

You've got links (the google search) that open into new windows with targets (shouldn't be used) and have no warning that they will do that.

Display none skiplinks - skip links are for keyboard navigators too, so they shouldn't be hidden using that method.

I'm also getting a warning of a flicker script. Not good.

Why are you using a transitional DTD? What have you transitioned from? You should be using Strict, especially for a site of this nature.

Listen to your site with JAWS (http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_downloads/jaws.asp). You'll soon spot issues.

Lorraine is our resident accessibility guru, she'll be able to offer much more relevant advice

I'm sorry but I can't let this statement slide, and I'm really not setting out to be brutal, I promise.

You cannot claim that something like this is a hobby , it's too important a subject and a confusing one at the moment your site sets out to promote you as an expert thus you must be one. the site asks people to accept and use the site for the purposes of commissioning web design from professional web developers as well as offering advice in general on the subject, Hobby and Just sit badly as choice of phrases

For a minute there I thought your username was saltpeter . . . what an awesome username that would be if you were called Peter

I concur. If the site was clearly labeled and promoted as a hobbiers site, then it would be okay, but it is aimed at and promoted as professional and offering professional services.

I suggest that if you are keen to learn, then change the direction of the site as it stands and make it clearer and use it as your basis for development and learning. It's a good solid basis, but saying it's a hobby here and broadcasting professional there is just misleading.

male ardor? Um yes...

Yes as i said it was a hobby site - I am trying to comeercialise it or monitize it. But that's why I'm here - too make it better.

Did you not know I knew I would get roasted by people saying i cant try and make my website become a resource over the next few years for accessible website design. Did you not know I knew the site has to be whiter than white?

I'm here for constructive criticisms please - tell me what you dont like and why and I'll react to it. The reason I'm here is for expert criticsim.

I have put a lot of time into it and that's all i want to do - make it useful and be sure I'm advising useful tips.

Jeez - where's that scaper site button?

Cheers!

***Fcuk - this IS Brutal!

I concur. If the site was clearly labeled and promoted as a hobbiers site, then it would be okay, but it is aimed at and promoted as professional and offering professional services.

I suggest that if you are keen to learn, then change the direction of the site as it stands and make it clearer and use it as your basis for development and learning. It's a good solid basis, but saying it's a hobby here and broadcasting professional there is just misleading.

Yes - thanks. I'm considering this as I am getting enquiries about things that I wasnt really setting up the site to do. At the moment it's sprawled out in a few different directions because of one idea or another.

As i said I am trying to monitise it so maybe this "hobby' avanue is better at this stage.

I'm also getting a warning of a flicker script. Not good.

What is this?

It's something in one of your javascript functions. Not sure which, and I don't have time to check. It would be preferential for an accessibility site not to rely too much on javascripts anyway, so maybe take a look and see what you're using them for, and if there are other ways to do them with XHTML/CSS alone, for example.

Ah - I know what this is - it is from an old css dropdown (made accessible) that i'm binning but I've still linked to it to use some of my navigation menu bar.

Ah, well, the good news is, you can probably scrap it entirely. CSS menus are easy to make, and come in all styles and shapes (including dropdowns), and totally javascript free. A quick google will turn you up a few.

Cheers - i picked up a pretty cool one at http://www.cssplay.co.uk/menus/index.html

There isn't one your locked into the thread until the very end *maniacal laughter*

This isn't brutal so far just painfully honest and it is constructive by and large.

Something worth remembering is that lately with the ease there is to take scripts, examples etc and create sites, to set up blogs in under 5 minutes never has there been such a plethora of people making technical 'how to' sites and the like and why shouldn't they? but there is a lot of bad advise or incomplete guides around that don't do anyone any favours and just plain mis-lead newbies who can't tell, so unless one wants to lumped in with those types of sites one has to ensure the best level of content and expertise, but that is what your endeavoring to achieve and I presume why you have asked the question here, the best and only way to serve you is to be as frank as possible.

Were being cruel to be kind!

Hugo.

The good thing about your site is the web address. Get the layout finished and get as much content in there, soon people will only need one site to visit to read about accessibilty

Thanks TPH but several have already tried or been approached according to my memory, backed up with a quick Google.

Yep, that site does seem to be collating accessibility stuff from all over the place and it could be a real headache trying to keep it all updated with the "latest" thinking

I don't think this related site is a hobby though. Sorry if I'm being brutal :twisted:

Back on topic. Not too much wrong with your CSS... did somebody tell you differently? It validates and appears to work cross (Windows) browers. The only aspect I'd suggest you consider is to use css shorthand properties (brought to you by... Mr TPH) a bit more, such as on some color and border declarations.

Hmmmmmmmm,

I think Shaun before trying your hand at another "venture" you should maybe get your other sites using valid code

Jeez - how many hours are there in the day. I'm trying to accessify 6 sites at the moment!

I like to try an fix one thing or learn something new every week on my Accessibility site.

By the way, if this is just a hobby, you might want to see about having this removed: http://webstandardsgroup.org/resources/index.cfm?resource_id=695

Pretty misleading.

Pretty misleading.

Er?? Why???

The snippet says - Accessible Website Design Tips and Tools.

Just what is misleading about it????????

Please bear in mind too - IM TRYING TO MONITIZE IT - it is in a bit of a flux while I determine which way to go with it.

One thing I would expect on an accessibility site is a font larger / smaller link.