[thelist] UK: Disability Discrimination and Web Site Design

[Andy Warwick]

on 2/1/04 7:12 pm, Zoe Oughton at zoe.oughton at btconnect.com wrote:

>  I have recently
> started to redesign a government department (or sorta governemnt we are at
> 'arms lenth' - whatever that means :o) ) web site, and I am keen for it to
> be fully accessible but visually appealing.

A noble goal; good luck - you'll need it.

I have spent many hours trying to achieve the same.

The site I am currently working on even looks fairly reasonable in lynx on
linux, so it /is/ possible.

> My first design did not specify a font size, I wanted let the user define
> their own font size or have their default browser font size.  This was so
> that those who needed/required/wanted large font sizes were able to increase
> the size with no problems.

An important UI issue and one that I applaud. I detest sites that fix size
with pixels, or assume PC browsers, for general text and navigation (I make
exceptions for legal small print, etc.)
 
> However, my boss does not like the default PC font size on most browsers, he
> thinks it is too big and insists that I make it smaller.  My reaction was to
> explain about accessibility, but he was insistant saying that if needed we
> can add pages to the site later for those who wanted more control
> themselves!!!! >:o(

At the risk of being flippant, is there any way to hack his PC (and any he
looks at) so that /his/ default size is acceptable, and let it slide as is?

> I have spent lots of time looking at what is the best way to control font
> sizes, but still giving users some control.  NOT easy!!!

:)

> I have read that many articles about:
> 
> 'Only use pt for font size'
> 'never use pt for font size'
> 'only use em for font size'
> 'never use em for font size'
> 'only use % for font size'
> 'never use % for font size'
> 
> My head is realing with all the contradictory advice regarding font size and
> accessibility, and I am still non the wiser!:o(

Personally I use ems, with a server-side browser detect to serve different
CSS files depending on browser and platform. I'll tend to use a default em
setting on the Mac side that I like the look/feel off, (eg. 0.9 em), then
set up an identical style sheet for the PC with the point size approx. 20%
smaller (eg. 0.75 em). That usually accounts for the size difference across
platforms. Each style/size I set is an absolute em value, so that is is
always in pro. to the browser's local settings, and stays in pro. to other
text on the page.

As I understand it, a value of 1 em on a browser set to 16pt size will give
16pt, while the same text with a 0.5 em value will give an 8pt size. On a
browser with 12pt text, the same settings will give 12pt and 6pt. If that
isn't strictly correct, that at least seems to be the case.

I have heard that ems on particular versions of Netscape screw up printing,
but as I believe it is better to offer a "print version" of each page as
plain, unstyled text, that is not an issue.

> I think I might use % as it seems to be the one element that still gives
> users some control themselves. But if anyone has any better advice I am all
> ears!!

If you need more details/examples of some of the things I've figured out for
better accessability let me know.

> I think it is important that these issues are dealt with as soon as possible
> because it could eventually affect all of us.  I have downloaded the
> Disability Discrimination Act, Code of Conduct and will read it as soon as I
> get a chance.  Like Richard I will report on anything I find out.

I too have grabbed a copy and am studying it. Immediate questions arise
about the section on manufacturers of goods do not need to worry as the
store selling them is liable; do we - as 3rd party web designers - count as
'manufacturing' goods, that the client then offers as a service?
 
Andy W