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Organization and Navigation

MUST

  • A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links. 508(o)
  • Provide redundant text links for each active region of a server-side image map. Provide client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape. WCAG 1.2, WCAG 9.1, 508(f), 508(e)
  • Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site’s content. Clearly identify changes in the natural language of a document’s text and any text equivalents (e.g., captions). WCAG 4.1, WCAG 14.1
  • Title each frame to facilitate frame identification and navigation. WCAG 12.1, 508(i)
  • If, after best efforts, you cannot create an accessible page, provide a link to an alternative page that uses W3C technologies, is accessible, has equivalent information (or functionality), and is updated whenever the inaccessible (original) page changes. WCAG 11.4, 508(k)

SHOULD

  • Clearly identify the target of each link. Use navigation mechanisms in a consistent manner.WCAG 13.1, WCAG 13.4
  • When an appropriate markup language exists, use markup rather than images to convey information. WCAG 3.1
  • Create documents that validate to published formal grammars. WCAG 3.2
  • Use W3C technologies when they are available and appropriate for a task and use the latest versions when supported. WCAG 11.1
  • Avoid deprecated features of W3C technologies. WCAG 11.2
  • Divide large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate. WCAG 12.3
  • Provide information about the general layout of a site (e.g., a site map or table of contents). WCAG 13.3
  • Provide metadata to add semantic information to pages and sites. WCAG 13.2
  • Describe the purpose of frames and how frames relate to each other if it is not obvious by frame titles alone. WCAG 12.2

CONSIDER

  • Provide keyboard shortcuts to important links (including those in client-side image maps), form controls, and groups of form controls. WCAG 9.5
  • Group related links, identify the group (for user agents), and provide a way to bypass the group. Include non-link, printable characters (surrounded by spaces) between adjacent links. WCAG 10.5, WCAG 13.6
  • Provide navigation bars to highlight and give access to the navigation mechanism. Create a logical tab order through links, form controls, and objects. WCAG 9.4, WCAG 13.5
  • If search functions are provided, enable different types of searches for different skill levels and preferences. WCAG 13.7
  • Provide a means to skip over multi-line ASCII art. WCAG 13.10
  • Specify the expansion of each abbreviation or acronym in a document where it first occurs. WCAG 4.2
  • Provide information so that users may receive documents according to their preferences (e.g., language, content type, etc.) Identify the primary natural language of a document. WCAG 4.3, WCAG 11.3
  • Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc. WCAG 13.8
  • Provide information about document collections (i.e., documents comprising multiple pages). WCAG 13.9
  • Create a style of presentation that is consistent across pages. WCAG 14.3