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Click here. Click where?

© Glenda Watson Hyatt

Individuals with visual impairments typically use screen readers when using computers. A screen reader is assistive technology that reads aloud the text appearing on the computer screen.

Surfing the Web this way can be long and tedious, as not every page that comes up will interest the individual. Similar to sighted individuals skimming a page to determine its relevancy, individuals using screen readers may choose to scan - or listen to - hypertext links first.

Pages with several click here and more info become uninformative when these hypertext links are read out of context.

Here are guidelines when writing hypertext links:

• Make hypertext links informative when read out of context - either on its own or as part of a sequence of links. For example, rather than using the word "more", use full descriptions like "more about Suite 101" or "full text of the press release". Make link text succinct.

• Avoid the click here syndrome, as clicking refers to using the mouse, which is not possible by everyone.

• Do not use the same link phrase to describe links that point to different URLs. Same link text should point to the same resource. Such consistency will help page design as well as accessibility.

• Use the <TITLE> attribute to provide more information about links link, when needed. For example:
  
  <A href="application.html">The Contributing Editor's application is available in HTML</A>,
  <A href="application.pdf" title="Application in PDF">PDF</A>,
  <A href="application.txt" title="Application in text">plain text</A>
  

Feel free to email me if you have any questions or if you would like more information about accessible web design.

Cheers,
Glenda
Soaring Eagle Communications
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