This page covers how to make a Macromedia Dreamweaver Web page more accessible by providing alternatives to multimedia. While Dreamweaver does not specifically help with some accessibility issues, they can be easily implemented through text size, page formatting, color choice and other options.

Providing Alternatives to Multimedia

Multimedia means any image, video or sound that is used on your Web page. Some people do not have computers capable of displaying all forms of multimedia while others are themselves disabled and unable to experience online sounds or images.

The simplest way to implement an alternative to an image is through the use of an "alt" text. To access this feature in Dreamweaver, first select the image you wish to represent with alt text. If the Property Inspector isn't open, choose Properties from the Window menu to bring it up. On the right side, after Alt, enter the text you would like to replace an image that doesn't display. Notice in the picture below that the entry after Alt is circled in red.

Similar settings can be made for the use of sound and video files. After inserting a plug-in, select it and them click the Parameters button on the lower right of the Property Inspector.

Clicking the Parameters button brings up a dialog box called Parameters. Enter "alt" under the first column called Parameter. Enter the text you'd like to replace the image in the second column called Value.

It is not absolutely necessary to use "alt" text. Another option would be to provide captions and descriptions of the multimedia you use. This is a better option for audio and video clips. (It would be difficult to include all lyrics or an entire script using the "alt" text).