Author's Guide to Accessibility - Page 5

THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO ACCESSIBILITY

Correctly Format Hyperlinks to Clearly Indicate Their Purpose

Depending on the purpose of a hyperlink and the type of product you are working on (for example, an interactive ebook or Active Learning companion, vs. a standard print textbook) each hyperlink will need to be formatted in a certain way in order for a screen reader to interpret it correctly.

If the hyperlink appears in the main body of an interactive ebook or Active Learning companion, it should use a short, descriptive phrase to present the actual live hyperlink with its blue text and underlining. (Example: /ˈʃeɪkspɪər/.)

For textbooks only, keep the descriptive text in the sentence, and provide the full URL in parentheses or in a resources section at the end of each chapter. Cognella can create QR codes on request.

Whether in an interactive ebook or print textbook, if a hyperlink is included as a reference, it should be in the references or bibliography. Here, it will be listed as a full citation for that resource, formatted according to the style guide of the author’s choice.

These distinctions are necessary because a screen reader reads out each individual letter of any hyperlink, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.

See the examples from digital-only products (interactive ebooks and Active Learning companions) and print products, along with corresponding explanations below.

Example #1: Interactive Ebook — Chapter 15 Assignment: Kraft Mac and Cheese (with phrases and titles, rather than URLs)

You work for Kraft Heinz as a sensory scientist responsible for the Kraft Mac & Cheese product line. You are asked to determine if the Jalapeno Flavored Mac and Cheese Macaroni and Cheese Dinner in the individual serving packages is different from the Jalapeno Flavored with Other Natural Flavors Mac & Cheese Macaroni and Cheese Dinner in the green box. Write 300 words in response to the following questions: What type of sensory test would you do? What specific test method would you use? Explain. Bonus – Who would be your test subjects?

Explanation

This example is strong. It’s not cumbersome for readers and listeners. The title and content of each hyperlink is clear. The formatting, which includes using different colors for the links’ descriptive text, paired with underlining, indicates the hyperlinks to sighted readers. For this reason, it is essential that underlining is only used for hyperlinks. Example: the Kraft Mac & Cheese product line.

Example #2: Textbook – Chapter 1 Reading (with separate URL)

After the Supreme Court’s (2007) Massachusetts v. EPA ruling, which determined that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the EPA issued an Endangerment Finding in 2009 declaring GHGs a danger to public health and welfare. This finding allows the EPA to regulate GHG emissions and is the basis for a more precise information collection mechanism called the GHG Reporting Program (GHGRP) (see https://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting). This program significantly enhanced the quality of the annual GHG emissions report.

Explanation

This example is also strong. Like Example #1, the inclusion of a resource via hyperlink is clear but not cumbersome for readers or listeners. The hyperlink is provided separately from the descriptive phrase so the actual URL can be viewed by a reader of a print text. Example: the GHG Reporting Program (GHGRP) (see https://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting).

How to Convert a Hyperlink to an Accessible Live Link

Type the short descriptive phrase or the title of the link (Kraft Mac & Cheese product line).
Be sure the phrase is truly descriptive, not a directive like “See this link.”
Go to your web browser. Highlight the URL and copy it (https://www.kraftheinz.com/kraft-mac-and-cheese).
Return to your document.
Highlight the short descriptive phrase or link.
On a PC, press control and the letter K.
On a Mac, press command and the letter K.
In the pop-up window that appears, paste the URL into the address field. Hit return/enter.
The link should then appear on the descriptive phrase or title of the URL: Kraft Mac & Cheese product line.