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Re: What do you think of the following table (is thisacceptably accessible)?

for

From: Steve Green
Date: Jun 13, 2011 4:18PM

I have run some tests using Windows 7, Internet Explorer 8 and JAWS 9. This
is what I found:

1. I am not seeing anything change when you type in the edit field.

2. The Submit button has a 'value' attribute of Leita but the 'title'
attribute is 'Sjá allt'. For me, JAWS always reads 'Sjá allt' but it may
read Leita in other screen readers.

3. When you submit the form, an additional button is added to the page next
to the original button. The new button has a 'value' attribute of 'Sjá allt'
and a 'title' attribute of 'Sjá allar leitarniðurstöður'. This is
potentially confusing because the 'value' attribute of this button is the
same as the 'title' attribute of the other button.

4. The 'expand' functionality is working but JAWS starts to read in the
middle of the new content. If you don't go back to the 'expand' button
before starting to read, you will miss some of the content. This is not
uncommon with hide / reveal functionality.

I believe that it can be fixed if JavaScript is used to move the focus to
the 'expand' button after revealing the content. In my experience, newer
versions of JAWS are better at retaining the focus position than older
versions but it is still best to control it explicitly.

5. I have often seen this 'expand' functionality in nested lists, where it
is equally confusing. During user testing, screen reader users invariably
say that they understand what the 'expand' buttons do, but they don't know
where the expanded content ends. This makes it impossible for them to build
a mental model of the page.

They are typically reluctant to collapse the content, and it is not uncommon
for them to expand everything, after which they can navigate normally. Maybe
it would help if there was an 'expand all' button to make this process
easier.

I have not seen 'expand' functionality inside data tables before.

Steve Green
Test Partners Ltd