National Federation for the Blind and spacer gif

[SEFL]

This is a rather unusual grey area, and I'm not sure where I stand on this (although I lean toward it being a bad idea).

On the National Federation for the Blind (http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp) website, they use a spacer gif in their header. However, they don't use it in the conventional manner that most designers use it (i.e. to put blank space between two table cells or two other elements); they actually use it to indicate a Skip Navigation link.

My question is twofold:

1) Is this an acceptable practice? I seriously don't know, although I'm thinking it's not.

2) Why didn't they just use a hidden span tag for this?

[Dave Hawley]

I'm guessing it has something to do with being blind. Outside the Google guidelines, but only a grain of sand, likely need a cup full for Google to take notice.

[SEFL]

I'm not sure on that, either, since clicking the image would allow the user to skip the navigation (since the image is a child element of an anchor). So from that standpoint, it's true.

Mind you, that's a secondary issue to the greater issue I posted.

[Dave Hawley]

Deb, would likely know the purpose of the hidden image. I don't see it as "greater" issue though. Seems trivial, unless there are more violations happening with the site?

[SEFL]

There are, actually. But I figured this would draw attention to the additional issues.

[Dave Hawley]

What are the primary issues then?

[WebSavvy]

Using the blank image for skip links is a BAD idea and not one that I'd use myself.

Dave, there are lots of other issues with that site. For one, it isn't even accessible to a screen reader and it's the friggin organization for the Blind! :rolleyes:

Not one use of a label, legend, fieldset, accesskey, or tabindex anywhere in the entire site, improperly nested Hx tags, links not separated, no placeholder text in the searchbox, missing ALT text on some images, not enough contrast between foreground and background colors, using images to convey information. There's much more -- but I've already pointed out major issues.

Adam, did you know that the NFB and Jim Thatcher have been given a contract to bring Amazon's properties up to WAI-AAA and supposedly this is going to be completed (or expected to be) by the end of the year?

If NFBs own site has this many accessibility issues I can't understand why they're consulting on web accessibility for the Amazon project.

[ihelpyou]

Seems to be a very bad idea to me as well.

Maybe they will see the referrals from in here and take some notes.... or even ask for some help.

[g1smd]

I'm not going to make any jokes about "the blind leading the blind" but I am sure half tempted.

I'd like to see their techs explain why they did that, and what benefit they think they get from it.

I sure can't see any.

[SEFL]

What are the primary issues then?

What Deb said.