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Re: Navigation Techinques

for

From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Aug 16, 2010 1:39PM

Terrill,

Sometimes, there is no successful way to navigate the page. If it lacks
semantic structure or any recognizable patterns, you end up reading the
whole thing or randomly skipping around hoping to get close.

Actually, the most successful approach in that case is to avoid using
the site. It is not always a choice though.

----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Terrill
Bennett
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 11:17 AM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: [WebAIM] Navigation Techinques

Being relatively new to screen readers (been using JAWS and NVDA for
testing since late March), I am curious to hear from those who live
by their screen readers...

When you come across a web site which has no document structure (i.e.
headings), how does one navigate the site successfully?

Here's a perfect example of where I am having difficulty
understanding the task:

http://www.ada.gov/publicat.htm#Anchor-14210

Obliviously, the above page must be "accessible!" (Yes, I have
learned being accessible according to Section 508 / WCAG 1.0 Level 1
isn't the same thing as being useful or friendly).

Using NVDA, I noticed there are items in block quotes and used "q" to
move between them, but for the most part that doesn't seem to be very
effective - I may as well follow the links. Using either block quote
or link navigation misses most of what is important on the page.

In JAWS, I tried using the "s" (next same element) but that doesn't
seem to honor the elements style or formatting, and mostly goes to
the next paragraph and / or link.

A penny for your thoughts.

-- Terrill --
"When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each
other."
Despair.com