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Re: Focus for error messages

for

From: ben morrison
Date: Apr 19, 2007 3:30AM


On 4/19/07, Joshue O Connor < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Spruill Kevin wrote:
> > if the error message is passed over by the auto focus, it really isn't
> > being presented to the screenreader users.
>
> Its really important that error messages are visible to screen reader
> users (indeed all users), as and when they occur. How this is done would
> be useful point for discussion on the list. I have seen many systems
> where the error message is just not given focus and the user is often
> unaware that anything is wrong until of course when they can no-longer
> continue with what they are trying to do.

I have adopted an approach to using an ordered list showing all the
errors and sending the page to the error message, also changing the
page title to indicate an error has occurred.

You can see it in practice on this site:
http://www.ncpta.org.uk/form/100013/contact_us/

Gez Lemon also came up with a similar approach and has a good write up:
http://juicystudio.com/article/dom-screen-readers.php

ben
--
Ben Morrison