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Re: the "Read More" links vs elipsis

for

From: Jared Smith
Date: Dec 6, 2011 4:57PM

All of these options work, though none are optimal. While you prefer
options 2 or 3 as a screen reader user, option 1 (having the "Read
more" link at the end of the summary) is more standard and probably
more friendly for sighted users. A good approach is to make the "Read
More" link so that it makes sense outside of its context, perhaps by
using off-screen text so that sighted users see "Read more", but
screen reader users hear "Article Title - Read More". This would
provide two links with the same initial text, though this is less
burdensome than several "Read more" links.

Another options is to use a combination of the approaches - having a
visual "Read More" link that is not a true link (and thus omitted from
the tab order and links list), but that uses JavaScript to trigger the
page change. This would, of course, require JavaScript, but without
JavaScript you could have the presentation be as Option 2 (no link,
user must backtrack to activate the link).

Option 3 (dynamic "Read more" option) would also require JavaScript
and would have limited applicability. It would also require that focus
be controlled so that the user's place within the article is not lost
when the link is activated and the rest of the story appears.

Of these, I think the first approach of using off-screen text so that
all links make sense is the easiest to implement and most friendly.

Jared Smith
WebAIM.org