WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

How do screen readers read forms that are in table?

for

From: Angela French
Date: Sep 16, 2011 5:00PM

Hello again,
I need to know how screen reader users are most likely to read a page that presents data and form elements when they are presented together in a table. Below is sample code to explain what I mean.

<table>
<tr><th>ID</th><th>Name</th><th>Hours</th><th>Add Hours</th></tr>
<tr><td>hyperlinked text</td><td>static text here</td><td>static text here</td><td><input type="text" /></td></tr>
<tr><td>hyperlinked text</td><td>static text here</td><td>static text here</td><td><input type="text" /></td></tr>
<tr><td>hyperlinked text</td><td>static text here</td><td>static text here</td><td><input type="text" /></td></tr>
Etc.
</table>

My understanding of forms mode is that it tabs to the next form element and so in this case would only just move to the next Add Hours field. There is no label on this <input> . The develop has conveyed the content that should go in there by virtue of the column header.

Would a screen reader user take it out of forms mode then? What improvements could be made here to make this good for screen readers while at the same time making it highly efficient for data entry folks who primarily use the keyboard?

Thank you for your insight, as always.



Angela French
Internet Specialist
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
360-704-4316
<EMAIL REMOVED>
http://www.checkoutacollege.com/