WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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Re: abbreviations

for

From: John Foliot
Date: May 26, 2010 3:27PM

Denis Boudreau wrote:

> Surely you understand that while accessibility != developing
> for screen readers, it is still an important part of a complete
> breakfast.
>
> Huh, I mean, an important part of an efficient approach to ensure
> that some users with specific types of limitations have access
> to content.

Correct, which is why *not* using <abbr> simply because, in its default
setting, JAWS (a commercial software package that runs on one operating
system) does not voice out the value string is a wrong reason for not
using <abbr>. This setting can be changed in JAWS quite easily, but more
importantly adding <abbr> when required also enhances accessibility for
some *other* users who may not be using a screen reader.

Bottom line: use <abbr> when appropriate.

JF