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I just wrote off-list to someone else about this...it is true that ALT text
can be very descriptive and not be seen on the screen, but the problem is
that when the screen reader generates the links list, it does not include
the alt text for that graphic or link. It merely generates a list based on
the link text itself, which is why the text itself must be unique and
descriptive.
Visually impaired users rely heavily on the links list that the screen
reader software generates...imagine a site filled with links, like
yahoo.com. It is much easier and faster for that user to use the links list
to navigate that page.
-----Original Message-----
From: David Berg [mailto:dberg -at- dmpnet -dot- com]
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 9:55 AM
To: Ruhman, Rima; TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: Click here?
> In the context of using software that actually reads the web pages for the
> visually impaired, the software compiles a list of links that are on that
> page and reads it to the user. If there are three instances of
> "click here"
> or "more", how will that user be able to distinguish one link
> from another?
In this instance, you could use graphic buttons for the links, and provide
alt text. Software that reads web pages for visually-impaired users reads
the alt text for any graphic, and would naturally ignore the minimally
descriptive text in the graphic.
David Berg
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