Often content is placed in a table. And this can be good choice if it makes the content easier to comprehend for people with and without disabilities. However, you must make sure that the table is accessible to a person with a disability, such as someone who is blind and uses a screen reader. There are also ways to present that same content without using a table.
This page provides some examples of how content can be formatted. Options include:
- Placing the information on a line (Example 1).
- Creating a list of items (Example 2).
- Creating an accessible table (Example 3).
Important: Tables are not to be used to format a page. For example, you should not create a table to give the illusion that there are two columns of text. Tables are solely meant to present data; when used in this manner, they are called data tables. Data tables always have row and/or column headings. An example of a data table is one that presents information about a schedule, such as a bus schedule. (The bus schedule might have two columns, one for pick up/drop off times and another for the bus stop locations.)
The (fictitious) examples below concern the topic of research grants. There are several components to the research grant: the application form, the action item, and the deadline date for each action item. Take a look at each example and notice how the information is presented.
Example 1: Standard Text Flow
Undergraduate Student Spring Semester Research Grant
Request for Proposals: Monday, September 9, 2013
Proposals to School Director: Friday, October 25, 2013
Proposals to Senior Associate Dean: Friday, November 8, 2013
Announcement of Grants: Friday, November 15, 2013
Example 2: Bulleted Text
Undergraduate Student Spring Semester Research Grant
- Request for Proposals: Monday, September 9, 2013
- Proposals to School Director: Friday, October 25, 2013
- Proposals to Senior Associate Dean: Friday, November 8, 2013
- Announcement of Grants: Friday, November 15, 2013
Example 3: Tables (Headers = First Row)
Undergraduate Student Spring Semester Research Grant
| Action Item | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Request for Proposals | Monday, September 9, 2013 |
| Proposals to School Director | Friday, October 25, 2013 |
| Proposals to Senior Associate Dean | Friday, November 8, 2013 |
| Announcement of Grants | Friday, November 15, 2013 |