Don't provide a separate text-only alternative site

The Challenge
Providing a text-only version of a Web page in lieu of creating accessible pages is not a good solution for accessibility. Text-only sites may benefit blind users (as well as people with slow Internet connections); however, they do not benefit people who are deaf, have motor or cognitive disabilities, seizure disorders, or color-blindness or low vision. In addition, they are rarely maintained as often as the "official" page they mirror, resulting in less than equal access to information.

Solutions

  • Make your pages accessible using markup, style sheets, and other techniques discussed in this Web site.
  • Keep in mind that if you absolutely have to create text-only alternates, you must ensure that the content of the text-only versions provides the same information and functionality presented in the inaccessible version, and that it is updated on the same schedule.