WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Accessibility of Modal Dialogs

for

From: Elle
Date: Feb 11, 2011 2:03PM

I have been working on creating technical documentation for our development
teams on how to create accessible modal dialogs. Here are the major topics
address:

- keyboard accessibility (with ESC and ENTER key functionality)
- HTML source orde
- tab order and tabindex to trap the focus
- focus being set after closing the modal window


I thought that we were on our way to success. However, someone just told me
that modal dialogs have significant issues with different
browser functionality and problems with tabindex / setting focus if there
are vertical scrolls within the dialog window. Does anyone know of specific
browser issues with modals? Or are there insurmountable global impediments
to creating accessible modal dialogs in general? I plan to do some user
testing of my own, but as a sighted AT user, I don't want to rely on my own
results.


Much appreciated,
Elle