University of Minnesota
Accessibility Website
http://accessibility.umn.edu
accessibility.umn.edu - advancing access for everyone
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Adobe Flash

Flash delivers interactive rich media experiences that present consistently across many platforms. It is used to add animation, video, and interactivity to Web pages.

Accessibility Barriers

  • Screen readers and individuals with learning disabilities may have difficulty accessing information that is presented too quickly.
  • Individuals with mobility impairments may be unable to access closely-spaced elements.
  • alternative text may be inconsistent when an image appears in more than one place.
  • Color alone may be used to group elements or otherwise convey information.
  • Keyboard equivalents are not always made available in a presentation.
  • Font and backgrounds may provide insufficient contrast or otherwise impair readability.
  • Animations may be lacking text equivalents.
  • Movies that change quickly may require constant re-reading or cause screen readers to constantly begin reading again from the top.
  • Captioning may not be present for audio components.
  • Background audio may interfere with spoken content.
  • Sounds may interfere with screen readers.
  • Buttons may be labeled incorrectly or not at all.
  • Elements on the screen may not be read in the correct order.

Best Practices

  • Include alternative text for each image that identifies, describes, or conveys the information conveyed by the image.
  • Make sure text equivalents are clear and consistent.
  • Do not use color alone to group elements or otherwise convey information.
  • User interface components, such as buttons and text fields, should be properly sized and spaced.
  • Make sure the presentation can be navigated using the keyboard alone.
  • Use Text of sufficient contrast and size.
  • Include captioning for audio content.
  • Provide a means of adjusting the viewing rate.
  • Create interactive presentations that do not require precise mouse control.
  • Avoid placing interactive elements too close together, and make sure the elements are sufficiently large.