C. Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with
color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.
Explanation and Examples:
Because some users cannot distinguish colors or shades of
colors, do not use color to exclusively define the navigation of your site. For
example, do not tell the user to "Follow the blue buttons to learn about
Student Life, and the purple buttons to learn about Class Signup
Procedures." Color may be used, but in conjunction with text (on the
buttons or next to the buttons). Therefore, you might make the Student Life
buttons blue, but you would have the appropriate text on or next to them to
explain where the button will take the user.
| Student
Life |
Class
Signup Procedures |
High contrast
High contrast between elements and between the background
and text is essential for most users. For example, most users will have a
difficult time distinguishing between a purple background and blue text. Very
light or white backgrounds with dark or black text work well, as do very dark or
black backgrounds with white or very light text. Large amounts of light text on
a dark background is tiring to read and will slow most readers down, so it is
best to set body copy in a dark color on a light background.
|
BEST CHOICE |
|
ACCEPTABLE
CHOICE |
|
POOR
CHOICE |
Graphical backgrounds
Avoid using busy, complicated background pictures on Web
pages. Brickwork or wickerweave, for example, might add interest, but reading
anything other than large text against such a background is difficult.
|
Text on a busy
background
is difficult to read. |
Back to Creating
Accessible Web Sites
|
