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Using headings and lists inside a table, makes navigation difficult in my opiinion, thoughts?

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From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Dec 12, 2011 8:39PM


Hey gang

This is my last new topic for some time. I am nearly done with my
evaluations for the year, and besides I believe I've posted enough
topics for now. :)
I am still looking at the same website (that definitely has a few
how-not-to-do-its".
On all subpages of the site, for instance this one:
http://www.akureyri.is/is/thjonusta/velferd-og-fjolskyldan

there are several categories of services (sorry about the language,
Icelandic is not easy to read), presented as headings and lists inside
a table.

As I understand it, the category names are heading level 3s, and
possibly headings, or at least first rows, in their respeective
columns, though my table mode in Jaws definitely indicates the table
is not properly marked up for one thing.
Each category then contains a list of relevant services.
alþjóðastofa, for instance, means international office, and contains
the services
"foreign languages", námskeið (= courses) and starfsemi (activities).
The problem with this approach comes in the "meira" or "more" part of
those lists. As a screen reader user I first see the category
headings, then lists, then 3 "meira" links in a row. I can guestimate
which "meira" link belongs to which category, but if just one of them
was missing such a link, I'd be lost.

Now, the problem is whether I should tell them to
1. mark up the table properly (many average screen reader users don't
like tables much, and I don't see the need for one here quite
frankly),

2. Do I suggest that aria role = presentation be put on the table, to
hide it from the screen reader users, (but then, how do I make sure
the "meira" links go properly with the lists they belong to", or

3. That the table be eliminated altogether and this information be
presented as a series of lists.
I am a little lost as to why they thought this was a god idea, may be
it looks good visually, may be the CMs makes it easy to produce this
layout. I am not hired to give them in-depth technical analysis, but I
was wondering if there is an obvious easy-to-implement solution that
would work on other subpages with this structure, that would make them
much more accessible or usable to screen reader users.
I've never seen this particular layout before, so curious if any of
you have suggestions based on your experiences, or comments on why
this would be considered a good layout in general.
Thanks to all, and to all, early happy holidays.
Thanks
-Birkir