WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Best Practice for Hiding Flash

for

From: Jason Megginson
Date: Aug 9, 2011 1:39PM

Setting the wmode to Transparent or Opaque is the best idea in theory, but
JAWS 12 automatically sets the wmode parameter to "window" so you may have
some functional issues with that approach. Avoid role=presentation to the
object or embed.

Setting tabEnabled=false will only keep keyboard from focusing to the
object with the Tab key. To truly hide content from the virtual reading
order you may set the object to "silent"
(object_name.accessibilityProperties.silent=true;). Note: the .forceSimple
property will work as well for an object and its children. If you set the
pie chart to silent, I recommend that an accessible name be set to the
movie as a whole; thus providing minimal textual alternative as the
presence of the Flash object will remain exposed on the page.

Sidebar: I know the Subject is in regards to "hiding" the flash but if you
have the ability to set the tabEnabled property via ActionScript, why not
just provide an accessible name that associates the pie chart with the
HTML data table?

In other words:

<table><caption>Table 2: Electric Boogaloo</caption>...</table>

<OBJECT>
//ActionScript in .FLA file
object_name.accessibilityProperties.name="Pie Chart for Table 2:
Electric Boogaloo";
Accessibility.updateProperties();
//End ActionScript
</OBJECT>

I would suggest this approach since the accessible name (Flash) associates
itself to the adjacent [accessible] HTML data table and you don't have to
beat your head against the wall to determine compatibility among the
various user agents.

Jason Megginson
SSB BART Group
703-637-8964 (o)
703-244-7755 (c)

-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of
<EMAIL REMOVED>
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 1:50 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] Best Practice for Hiding Flash

What is the recommended technique for hiding flash content? In my
particular case, I have a data table with an associated flash pie chart.
The pie chart does not convey any extra meaning and just makes things
difficult as it is a third party solution.

Current, I set tabEnabled = false within the actionscript on the flash pie

chart.

Should I be considering anything else such as setting role = presentation
on the embed or ensuring the wmode is set to transparent or opaque?

Any advice welcome. Thanks!

Vincent Young
User Experience, Web Accessibility Specialist
Nationwide Corporate Marketing
NationwideR
o | 614.677.5094
c | 614.607.3400
e | <EMAIL REMOVED>