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Re: If you use the WAI-ARIA role ³application², please do so wisely!

for

From: Heidi Jungel
Date: Feb 7, 2012 12:12PM

This is a tricky issue. But I have argue this with landmark roles in
general.
I recently visited a page that had 60 landmarks.

For me, the landmark role allows me to jump to major sections of a page.
Almost like a fancy skip to navigation.
I can then use JAWS or VoiceOver to jump around within this major sections.

As the author of that article mentioned, some sections in which you should
not use application landmark role.

However, it goes back to general layout of the page. These "pieces" should
capture the main layout of your page;
which would likely be defined at the wireframe level. Application
landmark is definitely a cumbersome spot. However, in working with
developers, I indicate that if there are more than two, we have a problem.
It can then get into a usability issue as well as an accessibility
problem.

Therefore, there are some sections, although useful, may not necessarily
need an entire landmark role.
If so, at least label these landmarks.

Just my two cents.