WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Question on "skip to main content"

for

From: Karl Groves
Date: Sep 25, 2009 12:35PM


Conceptually, the idea is that you should layout the content so that
sections (including sections of the interface) are preceded by headings -
this includes the navigation, for instance as well as the content. Then
assistive technology users could do things like pull up the headings list
to jump to the area they needed.

HTML5 will have some additional elements which, if used properly, could
enhance this capability, such as the new 'section' and 'nav' elements.


Karl Groves
Director of Strategic Planning and Product Development
SSB BART Group
<EMAIL REMOVED>
703.637.8961 (o)
443.889.8763 (c)
http://www.ssbbartgroup.com

Accessibility-On-Demand


> -----Original Message-----
> From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto:webaim-forum-
> <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Geof Collis
> Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 2:23 PM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Question on "skip to main content"
>
>
> What good does that do for someone who doesn't have the ability to
> use them for skipping over blocks of text?
>
>
>
>
> At 02:02 PM 9/25/2009, you wrote:
> >I'll add that the current 508 doesn't require "skip links"
> >either. It requires a method to skip repetitive content, and many
> >people consider structure in the form of headings to be sufficient.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >AWK
> >
> >Andrew Kirkpatrick
> >
> >Senior Product Manager, Accessibility
> >
> >Adobe Systems
> >
> > <EMAIL REMOVED>
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> >[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
> >Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 2:00 PM
> >To: WebAIM Discussion List
> >Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Question on "skip to main content"
> >
> >On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 11:43 AM, Nancy Johnson < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> wrote:
> > > Are "Skip to main content" links a requirement for the updated
> version
> > > of 508. If so, is the requirement that it remain visible or can it
> be
> > > either hidden or visible?
> >
> >There is no "updated version of 508". There have been recommendations
> >made to the Access Board for possible updates, but we are at least 2
> >or 3 years away from any updates being made. The recommendations made
> >did not include a requirement for "skip" links. The recommendations
> >were quite similar to WCAG 2.0 in this regard.
> >
> >The Access Board has indicated that they will release an initial draft
> >version of their proposed updates in the near future, so we'll know
> >their intention regarding "skip" links soon.
> >
> >I should also note that "skip" links (whether visible or not) are not
> >necessarily a requirement of the current Section 508 language which
> >simply requires that "A method shall be provided that permits users to
> >skip repetitive navigation links."
> >
> >Jared Smith
> >WebAIM
> >