Flash Accessibilty

Flash CS3/ ActionScript 3.0 Accessibility

• Tia Alexander's compilation of Accessibility information
• Demo of Flash movie with animation, read by Window Eyes, a screen reader that works better with Flash than JAWS

Flash Accessibility for different disabilities

For Hearing impaired

Captioning

For Visually Impaired/Colorblind

Animation requirements

Text Equivalents for Flash objects/symbols, using dynamic text

Control Reading Order

Components and Flash Accessibilty using ActionScript 3

Provide Control over Audio Playback with Play & Pause Buttons

Simplify Structure of Flash movie

Avoid conveying information via color without words for visually impaired and colorblind

Mobility Impairments

Keyboard shortcuts

Low Reading Skills/Learning disabilities

Avoid constant motion on screen, which is distracting

Seizure Disorders

Animation requirements

Overview of flash accessibility methods

Links are to details in Flash Accessibility site

Two ways to make Flash movie accessible

1. Accessible text equivalents for each symbol within movie:
   1. In accessibility window for fla document, check the "Make Child Objects Accessible checkbox.
   2. Create accessible description for each symbol & use dynamic text for text
2. Accessible information only at Flash movie level:
   1. In accessibility window for fla document, uncheck the "Make Child Objects Accessible" checkbox.
   2. Write accessibility text for entire movie and do not create accessible descriptions for symbols.
   3. This hides motion from screen readers, which do not reinitialize over and over when movie loops

• Use Accessibility Panel in Flash to provide brief text equivalents for graphic elements. Text equivalents are available for entire movie, single objects within a movie or a group of objects within a movie.
• Window>other panels>Accessibility or <Shift> + F11
• Avoid Empty Hit areas in Buttons. Instead add a hit state and set the Alpha to 0%
• Can set movie clips to be non-accessible by deselecting option "make accessible" in accessibility panel

Examples of Accessible Flash Websites

• GeoNet Kid's Geography Game
• BankOne for You
• Zoot Suit Riots
• Accessible Flash Navigation bar & fla file that produces it from Rich Media Acessibility Site
• Flash captioned movie example
• Flash children's site with signing for deaf viewers

Flash Movies with accessibility accomodations 

• Accessibility Modification for entire movie with child objects not available.
• Accessibility Modification for child objects (buttons, etc.).