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The Text Email Newsletter (TEN) Standard is an 18-point "easy
to use" guide to help make plain-text email newsletters
more accessible and easier to navigate and understand for visually
disabled people using assistive technologies such as screen
readers or speech enabled Web browsers. Implementing the
Standard will benefit all readers, not just the visually
disabled.
The recommendations of the TEN standard include:
- having a
contents section at the beginning of your newsletter
- clearly
dividing the newsletter into sections
- numbering all articles
- making all headlines UPPER CASE.
Many of the recommendations
are simple formatting guidelines which ensure that assistive
technology reads out your newsletter correctly. Why Bother?
Web accessibility has been an issue for disabled Internet users
for many years. In recent years disability legislation regarding
Web accessibility has been passed in many countries around the
world. This has forced many Web developers to consider the needs
of their disabled visitors, often for the first time.
A TEN
Standard compliant newsletter prevents developers from falling
foul of any prospective legal problems, or at least provides an
excellent defence! The Web is the best way yet of providing equal opportunities
for all. Accessible Web sites improve the quality of life for
millions of disabled users around the world - the disabled can
enjoy the full benefits of the Web along with everyone else.
A
TEN Standard compliant newsletter shows ALL your subscribers, and
prospective subscribers, that you care and have considered their
needs. It makes economic sense for owners of e-business
and commercial Web sites to design a newsletter which can be easily
read by the
widest possible range of people. A TEN Standard compliant
newsletter benefits everyone because it is easier to navigate and
information is easier to locate. This will encourage subscribers
to remain subscribed and encourage new subscribers, thus
increasing the popularity of your newsletter.
Conclusion
I found the guidelines were quite easy to implement. I have also
created a TEN Standard compliant newsletter template which means
that all future editions of the mickwood.com
monthly newsletter will be
easy to produce.
If you do decide to implement the TEN Standard you can "sign-up" to
the Standard. This could be a useful marketing opportunity as, eventually,
your organisation will be listed at the TEN
Standard Web site. Further information
about the TEN Standard can be obtained from the same address. |
