Web Accessibility

Image Maps: Provide Text Equivalents for Image Maps.

Checkpoint 9.1 [Priority 1] Provide client-side image maps instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.

An image map is an image that has "active regions". When the user selects one of the regions, some action takes place -- a link may be followed, information may be sent to a server, etc. To make an image map accessible, content developers must ensure that each action associated with a visual region may be activated without a pointing device.

Tips:

• Provide text equivalents for image maps since they convey visual information. As with other links, the link text should make sense when read out of context.
• Never use an image map as your only navigational tool. Always include text links on the page too. Visitors using some assistive technologies find it helpful if you include links that take them directly to the main content of the page or to the text links.
  

Examples:

In Dreamweaver, use the Properties Palette to provide Alt text for each "hotspot" or link within the the image map. Here is the map with the View My Class Schedule text selected (hotspot). Below that is an image of how the Properties palette is used to both provide a link on the image and also to provide alternative text to users who are unable to see the image: