Accessibility

Most browsers support jumping to specific links by typing keys defined on the web site. On Windows, you can press ALT + an access key; on Macintosh, you can press Control + an access key. Then press Enter. The popular Mozilla browser allows you to access the links by using the TAB button, to select the menu of quick links then press Enter

 

The home page and all archives define the following access keys:

 

Access key B Sub Navigation

Access key S SiteMap

Access key A Accessibility

Access key H Home Page

Access key C Main Content

 

Navigation aids

1. All pages on this site include a consistent set of global navigation links.

2. All pages on this site include a search box.

 

Links

1. All links have title attributes which describe the link in greater detail, unless the text of the link already fully describes the target (such as the headline of an article).

2. Wherever possible, links are written to make sense out of context. Many browsers (such as JAWS, Home Page Reader, Lynx, and Opera) can extract the list of links on a page and allow the user to browse the list, separately from the page.

3. Link text is never duplicated; two links with the same link text always point to the same address.

4. There are no “javascript:” pseudo-links. All links can be followed in any browser, even if scripting is turned off.

 

Images

1. All content images used on this site include descriptive ALT attributes. Purely decorative graphics include empty ALT attributes.

 

Visual design

This site and all its archives use cascading style sheets for visual layout.

1. Internet Explorer has a limited text resizing feature (”View” menu, “Text Size”), but it only works with relative font sizes. A special stylesheet that uses relative font sizes is automatically served to visitors using Internet Explorer.

2. If your browser or browsing device does not support stylesheets at all, the content of each page is still readable.

 

Accessibility references

1. W3 accessibility guidelines, which explains the reasons behind each guideline.

2. W3 accessibility techniques, which explains how to implement each guideline.

3. W3 accessibility checklist, a busy developer's guide to accessibility.

4. U.S. Federal Government Section 508 accessibility guidelines.