Hi everyone,

As you all know accessibility is a very hot topic these days…I was wondering if there are any discussions over adding accessibility controls to the core framework.

I would also like to give an example as to what that would mean. When you insert a Text/HTML module on your site you can modify all settings from text to images etc etc.

What I would like to see, if you upload and insert an image but you have forgotten to add an alternate text to instantly get a warning message. (I hope that example makes sense).

I would be happy if you all give your input on this matter.

Many thanks

Hi Jeff,

I agree. As a developer you can and you should use a number of accessibility tools against your websites to make sure they conform. 

When setting a site up for clients you ideally want them to manage it (administration and content updates) for themselves. You can write a manual, train them, educate them and instruct them accordingly. But people do tend to rotate. And an administrator cannot always be available. If the system allows warning messages (i.e. an option under the host settings to enable accessibility checks), even the less tech savvy content editor can produce a compliant content and avoid mistakes. 

I guess I'm more of the opinion that accessibility has to start with content, and if the content author or editor doesn't understand accessibility then nothing will help.  The simple things, a missing ALT attribute on an IMG tag, could be solved simply with defaults, not warnings.  But in the scheme of accessibility, those are extremely mionor errors.  Using a graphic to supply textual content can't be solved simply by a warning or by a default, the ALT attribute has to accurately replicate the text in the graphic.  Or better, by properly using CSS instead of making it a graphic.  How do you warn about that or force it to happen, other than by user training and skill?

The only thing DNN should do is enaure that all the core code renders HTML and CSS that complies with accessibility standards.  Which will never happen with the default navigation objects of course.  But the skins and content have to be the responsibility of the end designer and author.

Jeff