NICS - Guidelines for accessibility
Recommendations
Multimedia presentations (QuickTime, Windows Media, MPEG, Flash) can be used, but ensure that use does not prevent those who cannot see, hear, or have the available plug-in from getting the information.
- Use multimedia with care:
- Provide a link to download the latest version of the multimedia player
- Provide controls to skip, pause, or stop the presentation
- For movies and sound files it is better to let people play the media in their media player rather than embed within the page (they have access to more accessibility features / have more control)
- Offer different download sizes to cater for all:
- Include the file size on the page
- Provide transcripts:
- On the same page (recommended)
- A link to a transcript
- Provide synchronized alternatives:
- Audio descriptions of a visual presentation
- Closed captions
Tip: Transcripts are a good idea, regardless of accessibility considerations:
- Many people may want an editable version of the multimedia content that they can save and manipulate
- Search engines will be able to index the content - without the transcript they wouldn't
Examples
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