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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



-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Birkir R.
Gunnarsson
Sent: 13 June 2011 22:31
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] What do you think of the following table (is
thisacceptably accessible)?

Hi gang

I have been asked for an opinion on a search results table for the Library
for the Blind in Iceland.
Bare with me here, it is in Icelandic.
To look at this page go to
http://hbleit.bbi.is/
(leit is Icelandic for search".
There are two edit fields, use the first one "hljodbokaleit".
Type in, for instance, Jean into the search box and click "leita".
I know search results are in Icelandic, but there are two specific concerns
I have.
Firstly, there appears to be Javascript that is executed when something is
enterred into the edit field, Hal 11 rashes on this occasionally, and you
notice the "leita" button changes and some other button called "sja allt"
(or see all results" pops up. This confuses Hal at least, and I believe I,
as a lbind tester, do not see all info there.
The second problem I have with this table is a little plus sign, which Jaws
called "expand". When you click on it information about the book is
displayed, I guess plot summary/publisher notes.
This is not working consistently for me with different screen readers, and
"expand" is a very vague description.
Has anyone seen or used a table like this, and what would be the experience
folks comment on its accessibility?
I have written up a set of comments, but if anyone has a few minutes to give
me input based on experience to improve my comments, I would certainly
appreciate it.
(not that I expect people to do my work for me, you understand, but this
seems a rather unique type of table and an example I am likely to encounter
again, so this might help others).
-B