When writing blog posts, bloggers can improve accessibility in several ways. Too many ways to remember, hence the “Accessibility Checklist for Blog Posts”! This quick reference is available as a downloadable mind map (PDF format – 182 kb) and as a text-based checklist below:
Does your post include…
Text?
- Expand acronyms the first time used in a post
- Explain unusual or jargon words
- Identify the language of foreign words or phrases
Hyperlinks?
- Ensure links are meaningful when read out of context
- Avoid links like "Click here", "Here" and "More"
- Ensure links open in the same window
Headings?
- Use heading levels to indicate headings
- Nest heading levels correctly
Lists?
- Use unordered or ordered lists to identify bullet points
Quotations?
- Use blockquote to identify longer quotes
Images?
- Add an alternative text (the null or empty alt text may be appropriate)
- Add a title (optional)
Audio?
- Provide a transcript
Video?
- Provide captions
- Provide a transcript (optional)
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I used to hate links that opened into another window. That was before IE7 and before I started using Mozilla. Now with tabs – I have all my links open into new windows because I want the reader to be able to easily come back to the main post. You will have to do some fast talkin’ to change my mind, Glenda.
Twitter: GlendaWH
Barbara, watch the fast talking regarding links opening in new windows coming up as Sin #7 of Inaccessible Blogs!
Your browser already allows you to choose to open a link in a new tab (or window) : that can be done with a middle-click or by pressing the deadkey Ctrl or a right-click and choosing “Open in a new tab”.
If you force everybody to have their links opened in a new tab, there’s no more choice for those that don’t want this behavior. I prefer the other way around, the one with the choice belonging to the user.
Twitter: GlendaWH
Excellent point, Felipe! Thank you.
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