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Re: Navigation in HTML forms

for

From: Randi
Date: Apr 21, 2009 5:35PM

I didn't know how to describe my response as a screen reader user
until I read Dave's response. I agree fully.

On 4/21/09, David Andrews < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> I am a screen reader user -- and I wouldn't tend to use header
> navigation in surveys. This is primarily because surveys are
> generally one off things, that is, I do it, and am done, so may not
> be that familiar with it. That makes me less likely to use larger
> navigation jumps -- I would tend to just down arrow quickly, as I
> wouldn't necessarily know how far I had to go or skip.
>
> Dave
>
> At 10:37 AM 4/21/2009, you wrote:
>>Hello,
>>
>>For many years we have been recommending to use fieldset/legend elements to
>>make radio buttons and check boxes accessible. With this technique you
>>associate each
>>radio or checkbox item with the proper legend element so a screen reader
>>user always knows what group of radio or checkbox items he is dealing with.
>>so far so good.
>>
>>On the other hand, I have been recommending to make the question surveys a
>>heading (h2-h6) especially in large surveys. This would allow screen reader
>>users to navigate easily between questions and/or skip selected questions
>>using screen reader heading navigation function.
>>
>>Here's the problem:
>>
>>Apparently, HTMl does not allow the use of header elements inside or
>> outside
>>the legend element so I can't not make my radio or checkbox question a
>>heading in the form. See the question 3 and 4 at:
>>
>>http://illinois.edu/goto/TestSurvey
>>
>>If they were using ordered list for the survey questions, there wouldn't be
>>a strong need to make the questions a heading because screen reader
>> programs
>>offer a good navigation mechanism for lists; question numbering is hard
>>coded and are not coming from OL.
>>
>>Here's my questions and I would be thankful if you share your feedback with
>>me and/or the group.
>>
>>1. How many of you in particular screen reader users use the heading
>>navigation in a mid-size or large surveys.
>>
>>2. Do you consider making survey questions a heading as a Best Practice for
>>mid-size or large HTML forms?
>>Note that in large surveys you might need to skip one or a set of survey
>>questions so you need a mean to easily jump over selected questions.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Hadi
>>
>>
>>