5. Writing Content

5.1.1 Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content

Guide to this recommendation

This recommendation covers the W3C WAI checkpoint 14.1 for NZ government agencies.

Related Recommendation(s)

16.1.1 - Divide large blocks of information into manageable groups

Rationale for this recommendation

Jargon and complex or sophisticated language may be understood by a select audience familiar with the jargon of language complexities, but will not necessarily be understood or clear to all users. A user may be skimming through content to determine if the item(s) of content is/are what they are looking for. If the language used contains jargon and/or is complex, it is more difficult to skim.

For further detail, see

Irish National Disability Authority http://accessit.nda.ie/it-accessibility-guidelines/web/guidelines/priority-1/1-6

5.1.2 Supplement text with graphic or auditory presentations

Supplement text with graphic or auditory presentations where they will facilitate comprehension of the page.

Guide to this recommendation

Information provided in as many formats as possible will assist the accessibility of the information being portrayed. Some users who have reading difficulties may not be able to read and/or pick up the information from a sequence at all, but comprehend what is being conveyed from an associated image, video and/or soundtrack.

This recommendation covers the W3C WAI checkpoint 14.2 for NZ government agencies.

Rationale for this recommendation

As with content on more conventional visual media such as books, magazines and television, assisting written text with images and/or a soundtrack (if possible) enhances the ability to portray what is being presented to the reader.

This also assists users with disabilities who find difficulty reading text alone, and users who have difficulty with the language used in textual passages because it is not their first language.

A wide variety of techniques can be used to provide supporting information, including animations, icons, graphs, video, recorded speech, synthesised speech, sound effects or sound alerts.

5.1.3 The alt text ends with a full point and a space

Rationale for this recommendation

If the alt text does not end with a full point and space, a number of assistive technologies such as screen readers will continue reading the end of a sentence and confusing the alt text with content. While the later versions of popular assistive technology tools Jaws and Window Eyes will recognise alt text without the full point and space, many blind internet users in New Zealand use older versions, mainly due to newer versions not being freely downloadable (as browser versions are) and being relatively expensive, especially for those with limited means.