Guideline index

1.0 - Consistency

• 1.1 - Be consistent throughout

2.0 - Design for Designers

• 2.1 - Enhance clarity with good design
• 2.2 - Do not convey information with colour alone
• 2.3 - Create contrast between foreground and background
• 2.4 - Avoid using flashing, flicker and unnecessary animation
• 2.5 - Use multimedia with care
• 2.6 - Create flexible width design if possible and appropriate

3.0 - Design for Developers

• 3.1 - Do not use frames
• 3.2 - Use style sheets to control all formatting, and layout where possible
• 3.3 - Use JavaScript wisely
• 3.4 - Do not cause pop-ups or new windows to appear
• 3.5 - Avoid pages that auto-refresh or auto-redirect
• 3.6 - Construct accessible image maps

4.0 - Navigation and orientation

• 4.1 - Provide effective navigation based on recognised conventions
• 4.2 - Provide additional navigational aids
• 4.3 - Make links meaningful
• 4.4 - Allow the user to easily bypass information
• 4.5 - Create a logical tab order through the page

5.0 - Content

• 5.1 - Use clear and simple language
• 5.2 - Prioritise information, maximise readability and scanning
• 5.3 - Provide accessible alternatives - don't rely on PDF / Word

6.0 - HTML coding

• 6.1 - Include this stuff at the top
• 6.2 - Consruct proper headings
• 6.3 - Define list and list items properly
• 6.4 - Use HTML to help indicate useful information
• 6.5 - Use structural and semantic markup properly and validate code
• 6.6 - Use relative font sizing, not absolute units

7.0 - Images

• 7.1 - All images must have alt text to convey the equivalent information
• 7.2 - Provide full descriptions for informational images
• 7.3 - Avoid using images to display text
• 7.4 - Use the correct image format for the job

8.0 - Forms

• 8.1 Simplify form design, use good spacing and sensible grouping
• 8.2 Provide labels for every form element, place correctly, explicitly associate
• 8.3 Enhance forms with special HTML mark up
• 8.4 Prevent errors and assist recovery from errors by providing supportive information

9.0 - Tables

• 9.1 - Data tables: simplify and mark up with special HTML
• 9.2 - Layout tables: ensure correct readout order, avoid complicated nesting, describe with summary attribute