Flash is a well-respected tool able to deliver interactive components to multiple browsers and platforms but can be problematic for screen readers and mobility impaired users. Although Macromedia is committed to providing tools to develop accessible Flash tools, ensuring Flash accessiblilty can be difficult.
Although many developers create entire modules in Flash, including navigation between pages, it may be easier to maintain the navigation, text and images in HTML and use Flash only for key animations, interactive activities or multimedia elements (audio/video) inserted within a Web page.
When navigation is in HTML, the options for accessibility are generally easier to implement.
In order to make the use of Flash files more accessible, consider these recommendations.
In Flash MX 2004, you can view the Accessibility panel by going to the Windows menu then Other Panels then Accessibility. This panel will allow you to add text labels and keyboard equivalents
Keep text together in one object whenever possible. Screen readers may jump randomly from text object to text objec.
Always provide a link to an accessible Flash plug-in page.
SECTION 508 - When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with § 1194.21(a) through (l).
Avoid including a full-screen automated Flash movie on a homepage since mobility impaired users may not be able to exit and cognitively disable users may become disoriented.. These Flash files should be started by the user.
Learn to use the Flash MX Accessibility options. Tutorials are available at:
Keyboard alternate options should be included in the navigation for all Flash files.
Flash files should follow the same principles for font-styling, color schemes, avoidance of blinking, animation accessibility and audio and video accessibility that HTML pages do. One advantage to Flash files is that images and text are vector based and are usually zoomable.
For maximum compliance, a pure HTML version of the content may be advisable.
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