Making your websites more accessible.

In Europe, Webmasters are continually making improvements in terms of layout and navigation to offer their visitors an easier and smoother experience. However, those with visual impairment and disabilities are often neglected. So ZyWeb have now introduced some features to assist the disabled visitor’s access to websites and also some features enable them to create their own website. If you desire to make your website disability-friendly then this guide explains the features within ZyWeb as well as giving you some general tips.

Those with visual impairments can use screen readers to help them build a picture of the page in their mind. Screen readers are programs which can read out text on the screen to the viewer.

They are also able to read the HTML code that goes into producing every webpage (your ZyWeb site being no exception), so it is possible to simplify your website in order to make it easier for the viewer to imagine. The first thing you should consider is the layout of your page. The more you attempt to add in a confined space, the more complex it will become and if it is not kept in an order, then it will not only be unpleasant looking but also difficult for the viewer to follow through the screen reader.

The best kind of design uses several pages for their websites, and keep their text clean and consistent. For example, a title page with a heading at the top of the screen, and then a couple of columns for text with some buttons on the side keeps things neat and tidy. If you think that might look a bit barren for your regular visitors, then don't forget that it is easy enough to add images throughout the columns, as well as the default header images which will always be in place at the top of the screen when you first select your template.

To copy your web page settings and styles from one page to another, simply open the page that you wish to copy the style to, and then in the page editor choose the "Page Properties" option. From there, you will find the option to copy the style at the top of the screen. Choose the page you wish to copy from in the drop down menu. The changes will take effect immediately and you should have all your colours and styles on the page.

To add images to your web page, choose the page you wish to edit from the filestore, and then in the editor, click to edit an item either above or below the area you wish to add the picture, and then from the Insert New drop down menu, choose the Image option. From here, choose to insert the image either Above or Below the currently selected item by clicking the relevant button.

You will then receive a number of options about the source that you wish to insert the image from - you can either choose one of ZyWeb's graphics, our stock photos or your own from your filestore. Upon picking the image you wish to edit, this will take you back to the editor. Click OK to confirm your choice.

Screen readers are also useful for reading Alt Tags on images. An Alt Tag is the small yellow box of information that appears when you hover your mouse pointer over an image when browsing on the web. ZyWeb has the ability for you to be able to edit your own Alt Tags so that you can add a description of your image.

To do this, in the page editor, click on the image you wish to add an Alt Tag to. The editing tools for the image should appear in the top half of the screen. Simply type the information you want to display in the Alt Tag into the Description box, and then click OK. After saving and publishing your page, you should be able to see the Alt Tag by hovering your mouse pointer over the image.

Another thing to bear in mind is the size of your text. Small text can be difficult to read and also makes your web page look a lot shorter and smaller than it could be. Whilst going too large will ruin any comfortable design you have put together, it is certainly a good idea to go 1 or 2 sizes larger if visitors to your website are having difficulty reading your content.

To change the size of your text, first highlight the text in the editor by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the pointer over the text, and then click on the small A button just above the text editor (to the left of the B and I buttons). This will bring up a window where you can choose both the font face and font size by clicking on the small circular buttons next to your choice. Once you are happy with your selection, click the Apply button to make the changes. Don't forget to click OK in the actual text editor to confirm your edits.

This should get you started on the road to making your website more accessible to everyone - Despite the differences in both abled and disabled websurfers, the same design principals apply and so any changes you might make will be of benefit to anyone who reads your website. If you require any more assistance with the ZyWeb site builder, please don't hesitate to take a look at the other guides here, as well as the tutorial located at http://www.zyworld.com/_zyworld/tutorial.htm.