Free - Improving Accessibility for Motor Impaired Users

The unique requirements for motor impaired web users can often be overlooked or poorly implemented. Motor impairments can be caused by a stroke, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a physical disability or even a broken arm. This group of users essentially have limited or no ability to use a mouse.

Provide the largest possible area for links

Wherever possible (and appropriate) expand the width and/or height of the clickable area. This will greatly aid motor impaired users that are able to use a mouse but with limited mobility. Ways of achieving this include:

• Include images

Ensure decorative images are included in the same link as any adjacent link text. A large image is of course far easier to click on than text.

• Convert inline elements to block

By assigning the CSS command display: block to each link in a vertical list, the full width of the column becomes clickable (as opposed to just the text itself). You'll need to assign a width or height to the link for this to work properly in Internet Explorer.

• Use JavaScript

      JavaScript can be used to increase the clickable area so that adjacent text/images are clickable too. Examples of when this technique can be used include:

• Placing link text on a background image and making the whole of the background image clickable (as opposed to embedding text in the image and making the image a link);

• Making an entire table row clickable when just one item is a link.
• Don't rely on small link targets

        Small link targets (especially individual numbers or letters) should be complemented by links with larger link targets. For example, search results should have 'next' and 'previous' links to additional pages, as well as numbers.

• Use left and right padding

        Left and right padding on links, especially for small link targets in a horizontal list, can slightly increase the width of links. This can be useful with individual numbers or letters such as A-Z links or search results links to additional pages.