Accessible Helper Modules is a group of modules to
make creating accessible websites easier.
Accessible API Module (accessible_api)
General toolset including guidelines data, site accessibility preferences,
and functions other modules may build on.
Functionality
- store any reusable data such as guidelines and mapping of guidelines
to drupal authoring contexts.
- configuration interface and retrieval function for site accessibility guideline preferences.
The idea here is store the general accessibility preferences here, but utilize
preferences in other modules and themes.
- configuration of accessibility conventions preferences where practices are not yet clear.
e.g. should content be positioned off screen left, top, or right
Accessible Fix Module (accessible_fix)
Accomodate and fix accessiblilty deficiencies
in core and contributed module. Works on a case by case basis with hooks like
hook_form_alter to modify other modules forms and markup. As a rule, these
are either stop gap measures until real fixes are made in modules or when
accessibility implementation is unclear or preference based.
Functionality
- allows overriding some theme's .tpl files with more accessible ones
- examples include google_cse and search module in drupal 6 needing labels.
- allows for invisible heading configuration in blocks
- allows for applying aria roles to blocks
Accessible Help Module (accessible_help)
Adds contexttual accessibility help for content authors.
- provides contextual help through hook_help
Theme overrides folder
Much of accessiblity is on the theming layer, so examples .tpl and template.php overrides
are included in the accessible_fix/theme_overrides directory.
Install and Configure
- Enable the module(s) you want to use. All require accessible_api. (admin/build/modules/list)
- Give site admins permissions to "administer accessible module" (admin/user/permissions)
- Configure the accessible_api module. (admin/settings/accessible)
- Configure Accessible Fixes Module (admin/settings/accessible/accessible_fix)
At this point, nothing has changed in the HTML of your site unless you have a theme that is
already altered to leverage this module. It will simply include an additional CSS file.
The following template changes will allow your setting to affect the HTML.
Working with block.tpl
Blocks can leverage the accessible_api and accessible_fix by adding aria roles and making headings invisible.
Positioning block headers off screen
See the file accessible_fix/module_fixes/block.documentation.inc or Accessible Fix Settings form in "Block Fixes" section.
Adding ARIA Roles to the block
- Make sure you have enabled some role goupings such as landmarks, document dtructure,
widget, abstract (admin/settings/accessible). This controls the roles available.
- Alter the block.tpl. An example is in accessible_fix/theme_overrides/genesis/accessible-fix-block.tpl
- Configure blocks to have aria roles. Navigate to block configure (admin/build/block/list/[theme])
- Flushing the theme cache may be necessary until this module is farther along