TIP 44

No text only websites

Cartoonist Shaun Anderson (1)

'The RNIB encourages the design of websites that practice 'universal design' or 'design for all'. That is, a single version of the website which is accessible to everyone, no matter how they access the Web. This is made possible by the extensive accessibility features designed into HTML 4. The W3C recommend a text only page only as a last resort.'

In most circumstances there is no need to create a separate text-only version of a website. Unless database content management is being used, the creation of an additional text-only version simply doubles the work involved in updating or amending the site, and often leads to an increasingly useless version of the site, with time constraints resulting in the graphic version being updated regularly while the text-only version is neglected and becomes more and more out of date. The creation of a text-only version should be seen only as a final option when all other alternatives for making the site accessible have been exhausted.

Accessible pages needn't be bland! They can be well designed, attractive and interactive, while at the same time providing access for everyone.

Separate design from content using HTML & CSS and you effectively build a text only website, but when attached to your tailored style sheet, becomes an attractively designed website page.

UK Government recommendations:

Alternative text-only pages should rarely be necessary and are not best practice. If text-only pages are used it is essential that their content is as complete and comprehensive as graphic content and is updated simultaneously with graphic content.

Guidelines for UK Government websites
Illustrated handbook for Web management teams

Fireman Shaun Anderson (2)

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