Web Accessibility at the University of California

Guidelines for Web Developers

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Anyone who codes static Web pages or dynamic Web applications must ensure that the content is accessible to individuals with disabilities, including visually and hearing impaired people. The following suggestions improve the accessibility of Web sites and reflect good development standards.

• Select any of the topics below for more information.
• Access the quick reference guide (pdf) for a single list of best practices.

Getting Started

• Use alt attributes appropriately on all images.
• Use descriptive text for links.
• Use plain text for text.
• Use skip navigation links.
• Maintain contrast between text and background colors.
• Use headings appropriately.
• Use unique names for links.
• Use valid markup and styles.
• Don't use frames.
• Don't provide a separate text-only alternative site.
• Inform users when a link opens a new window.

Beyond the Basics

• Use cascading style sheets (CSS) to present page content.
• Mark up data tables correctly.
• Ensure source code order matches visual page flow.
• Use color judiciously.
• Use the longdesc attribute for images with complex meaning.
• Use relative font sizes.
• Test in multiple browsers/operating systems.
• Label elements in forms for use by assistive technology.

Advanced Tips

• Make sure people can use the keyboard to select form choices.
• Avoid using CAPTCHAs in forms.
• Provide alt attributes in image maps.

You will need the free Acrobat Reader to view and print PDF files.