Image Map Accessibility

Jim Thather provides many tutorials at his web site, but among them is a fully illustrated and thoroughly exampled explanation on the subject of Image Mapping with accessibility in mind.

“The following points apply to accessible image maps:

• If you want to use an image map, make it a client-side image map.
• Include meaningful alt-text for every <area> of the <map>, alt-text that conveys the function of that hotspot.
• Use an appropriate text alternative on the image itself. If there is no information beyond the hotspots then alt="" is appropriate.
• If you must use a server-side map, also include equivalent text links on the page for all hotspots of your server-side map (and please write to me explaining why you need to use a server-side map, because I would like to know).”

Read the Full Tutorial from Jim Thatcher to see all of the reasoning and explanation behind the process.