Website Accessibility for Seniors

From The Long-Term Care Weblog via Sotelliving, an interesting overview of a study conducted by the UK's Sitepoint.com on how elders browse the web. Among the findings: seniors are more likely to assign blame (either to themselves or to a web site) for difficulty in using a web site, they tend to employ "far more emotive words and phrases" than younger users when referring to web sites, and are not as familiar with technical language that younger users take for granted. From these findings, writer Tim Fidgeon makes a number of suggestions for site design that will help elders with their web surfing:

• Designers should investigate innovative ways to communicate the fact that a page is not finished and requires scrolling.
• Technical terms should be avoided if possible. Where they have to be used, a clear explanation must be easily accessible (including examples wherever appropriate).
• Links should be identified in a consistent and obvious way (e.g. blue, bold, underlined; red on mouse-over).
• The attention-grabbing features on a page (e.g. headings, pictures, icons, instructions and bullets) should be links.
• Visited links should change colour.
• Provide an HTML version of as much content as possible and do not require users to install software (even Adobe Acrobat) in order to be able to access information.
• Make content as concise and clear as possible. Consider providing two versions of the same content ('simple' and 'detailed') and allow users to decide which they want to access.
• Sites should provide a 'Make the writing bigger' link with accompanying illustrations or icons and always use high contrast to display text e.g. black text on an off-white background (n.b. using an off-white background is preferable to white because it reduces the chances of eyestrain for people who are slow readers).
• Provide explicit instructions by using the imperative forms of verbs (e.g. 'Go to more details on...', 'Find a...', etc.).

Obviously, the growth of the elder population means that web designers will have to consider a site's accessibility to senior citizens if they want to appeal to the widest possible audience. Mark at Sotelliving notes that these findings and suggestions are not surprising, and that's definitely true for us that pay attention to the needs of elders. I'd imagine, though, that many people outside our niche need reminding about the unique needs many elders have when approaching media of all types.

If you need assistance with high technology and Internet usage let the technological handypeople assist you with selection, set-up and support. Helpdesk4Seniors is only non-profit focused on providing seniors with a free helpdesk service.