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Re: H1 to H4 titles sub titles....

for

From: Sailesh Panchang
Date: May 5, 2011 7:09AM

Allen,
I too do not consider requiring headings simply as a method of
skipping repetitive content (H69 of WCAG 2 techniques). Headings are
meant to expose structure and hierarchy within a section of content
and they are just that. Heading navigation is a feature of assistive
technology by which users are able to perceive thstructure that most
users can do visually. (Developers need not be aware of how headings
are used by different groups of users... they simply need to use
headings as conceptualized and set out in the HTML specs). This AT
feature _incidentally_ helps users skip to main content / skip
navigation blocks if the document is marked up well thereby satisfying
SC 2.4.1 of WCAG2 or Para (o) of S508.
Thanks,
Sailesh Panchang
www.deque.com


On 5/4/11, Hoffman, Allen < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> My difficulty with full use of comparable in a technical testing context
> is that it can mean so many things to so many people.
>
> While I can concur that by using headings someone using some AT products
> can navigate on that basis, the question is, is that a function of the
> page, or a presentation style. I don't believe most site developers
> would connect their use of heading styles to navigation, but would
> understand the visual appeal. This would be an item which can be
> considered a potential testable step for 1194.31(a), as you cite, if
> header navigation is considered part of the actual page navigation in
> general. I don't believe headers are required for skipping repetitive
> navigation or content, but might be accepted as one success technique
> for that.
>
> Sigh.
> If you throw five IT accessibility people one a single page you get ten
> accessibility answers! <smile>.
>
> Excellent evaluation discussion.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sailesh Panchang [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 4:54 PM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] H1 to H4 titles sub titles....
>
> Allen,
> Right, the technical standards do not require headings.
> When S508 was written, browsers and AT did not support heading
> navigation. But this has changed since.
> The objective of the law is to provide "comparable access" to PWD.
> Now 1194.31 (A) says "At least one mode of operation and information
> retrieval that does not require user vision shall be provided, or
> support for assistive technology used by people who are blind or
> visually impaired shall be provided".
> When the page uses text / image-text styled as headers, marking them
> up with h-tags will allow comparable access to headers without
> requiring blind users to read complete page using an info retrieval
> feature supported by AT today that was not available in 2000-01. This
> is a functional outcome.
>
> The Access Board guide says "...a recognition that future technologies
> may be developed, or existing technologies could be used in a
> particular way, that could provide the same functional access in ways
> not envisioned by these standards. In
> evaluating whether a technology results in "substantially equivalent
> or greater access," it is the functional outcome, not the form, which
> is important".
> I think the spirit and intent of the law are guiding factors- really
> important during implementing any law.
> So heading markup is required only when the page uses text /
> image-text styled as headers.
> Sailesh
>
>
> On 5/3/11, Hoffman, Allen < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>> I'd only add that inconsistent or senseless header change will affect
>> different users of screen readers in different ways, there really is
> no
>> "correct" answer. It wouldn't rise to a 508 technical failure in
>> general, unless it really makes a page absolutely un-navigable, or
> would
>> require such user memory to make reliance on the headers for
> navigation
>> pointless.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Jeevan Reddy [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 1:53 AM
>> To: WebAIM Discussion List
>> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] H1 to H4 titles sub titles....
>>
>> Hi Nancy,
>> Find out wether that H4 is used for Content or template.
>> if it is used for template elements, it's not a big worry. if not,
> it'll
>> be
>> a a problem for screen reader users.
>> Follow the below Standards for using H1-H6:
>> 1 Use H1 or H2 For different sections in the content.
>> 2 Use H3 or H4 as nested headings for different sections of content.
>> 3 Don't skip the headings more than one order. That is if you used H2
>> then
>> use H3 or H4 as nested headings, not to use H5 or H6.
>> 4 Follow the consistancy across the web site, you can use H1 as
> content
>> header, in other pages you can use H2 or at max H3, but not H4.
>> 5 use H4, H5, and H6 for other than content sections. i.e for template
>> elements.
>>
>> As your title suggests, it is not violation as per Section 508 is
>> concerned,
>> but it is certainly a problem for screen reader users.
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 2, 2011 at 7:55 PM, Nancy Johnson < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> We are producing a site and part of my job is to see if the htmls and
>>> frontend javascript jquery the design company provided is 508.
>>>
>>> The heading on one page goes from an H1 designation to an H4
>> designation,
>>>
>>> Will this be a problem for screen readers?
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>
>>> Nancy
>>>