Best way to use an alternative to a flash menu

To be Section 508 accessible

[Aberdeen]

I have to convert a site into a css driven, cross browser compatible site, which adheres to Section 508 accessible. My only problem is it uses flash animation for its menu system. Is the satay flash method the best way around this, or should I be using some horrible JavaScript document.write method. Or should I just chuck the flash animation and replace it with a nice css driven menu.

I think the important thing here section 508 accessibility.

Any advice would be great.

Cheers

[jetboy_70]

Is the satay flash method the best way around this

This is just a method of embedding Flash using valid markup. It's still Flash though, and no more accessible than it was before.

should I be using some horrible JavaScript document.write method

Again, no. If it relies on Javascript for basic menu functionality, then it isn't going to be accessible. You *can* use Javascript for things like show/hide functionality, but the menu still needs to work when Javascript's switched off.

a nice css driven menu

Yes. But even here a lot of the available ones rely on Javascript for basic functionality, so be careful. Even though the Section 508 guidelines are very vague, the thinking behind them in relation to navigation is that users can still move around your site with Javascript, Flash and CSS switched off.

You've also got to consider than your button/anchor text needs to reflect the content of the link destinations, not solely rely on colour for identification, not be repeated ... the list is long!

[Aberdeen]

I was thinking that I could use the satay method which gives space for an alternative option if flash is not available. In that area I could place a un-ordered CSS driven menu which would be visible if JavaScript, flash and css are turned off.

Is this an option, or am I barking up the wrong tree.

Cheers

[jetboy_70]

Yeah. I'd say that sounds like a good plan.

[createErrorMsg]

Is this an option, or am I barking up the wrong tree.

This also depends on your precise 508 requirements. In other words, are you being told to adhere to those standards by a private sector client who simply wants to comply, or are you designing a site for a federal or state supported organization whose site might be checked up on, and have gov't funding pulled from the org. if it fails to meet standards?

The answer to your question might be quite different in these two situations. For the former, the alternative method would be fine. For the latter, although it might technically pass the standard, it would probably be better to go pure text/css driven.