Design and Accessibility: Part IV
Tables to CSS and CSS Modifications: Design for Accessibility
In the previous article, Linda returned to presentation, or to the visual layout and design of a Website, to understand whether the Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth site was available to as many users as possible. In that article, she showed how mismanaged code caused a lack of presentation, and that this mismanagement could affect blind as well as sighted readers in some browsers (no one can read a crashed site...). She also illustrated ways that structure and style could alter presentation across browsers and platforms, especially if the stylesheet is linked to the document file incorrectly.
In this article, Linda corrects those issues in the Montrose site. First, she eliminates tables in her document and replaces them with CSS based on the CSS Mastery tutorial. She then modifies her CSS so that users who utilize older user agents can gain access to the content within the site. This material is especially useful to WordPress blog managers, but anyone can learn how to eliminate tables from their sites with these tips. Linda also touches on issues about global structure management based on W3C (World Wide Consortium) guidelines.
Overview
Tables are for Flower Arrangements, Not for Websites, Right?
The elimination of tables as a structural layout tool within a Website is one problem that can make or break a designer, let alone a Website. But, as browsers and other user agents become more compliant and consistent, the designer’s work is also reduced. It is for that reason that accessible tables are allowed for data presentation (like calendars); however, W3C’s guidelines suggest that Web designers eliminate tables as a layout tool, as complex and nested tables can confuse many blind users’ screen readers. And, the W3C also provides tools that allow a designer to create tables that transform gracefully, but – once again – this information is for tabular data, not for designers who wish to use tables to control content unless the table makes sense when linearized.
Linda Goin carries an A.A. in graphic design, a B.F.A. in visual communications with a minor in business and marketing and an M.A. in American History with a minor in the Reformation. While the latter degree doesn't seem to fit with the first two educational experiences, Linda used her 25-year design expertise on archaeological digs and in the study of material culture. Now she uses her education and experiences in social media experiments.
Accolades for her work include fifteen first-place Colorado Press Association awards, numerous fine art and graphic design awards, and interviews about content development with The Wall St. Journal, Chicago Tribune, Psychology Today, and L.A. Times.
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