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Re: Google Forms: Label issues

for

From: Karla Kmetz
Date: Apr 19, 2012 12:28PM

Hi Greg,

That really does help! Thank you Greg! Of course, I wonder if we should
really evaluate whether we should continue to use these forms if they are
not accessible. It seems that Survey Monkey is pretty accessible and that
might be a good option, I just know this is the preferred program for our
campus since Google is so integrated into our system so that is why I am
trying hard to see if there is a way to make it accessible.

Karla

On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 1:58 PM, Greg Kraus < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Hi Karla,
>
> Google Forms have some basic accessibility problems. As Jared points
> out, you cannot edit the code, so there isn't much you can do. The
> main accessibility problems I have noticed so far are:
>
> 1. You are correct, the question and the help text are both being
> associated as labels for a single input element. This is technically
> incorrect, but some screen readers seem to handle this OK, but there
> is no guarantee that all screen readers will.
>
> 2. All of the questions are coded as labels, but sometimes those
> labels aren't explicitly tied to the following choices, such as
> multiple choice questions made with check boxes or radio buttons. What
> is really needed is a different model of presenting the questions and
> choices. Some question types, like multiple choice, in most cases
> should probably be implemented with a legend for the fieldset. This
> raises the problem then of some questions being coded as labels and
> some as fieldsets. There are other solutions to this problem, such as
> using headings to denote each question, or else using aria-label or
> aria-labelledby attributes.
>
> 3. Required fields are not announced by screen readers as being required.
>
> 4. Inputs for the grid question types are not labelled correctly
>
> 5. Inputs for the scale question type could be more usable if the
> screen reader user is given some explanatory text ahead of time about
> how it's laid out.
>
> There are some steps you could take to make Forms more accessible, like
>
> 1. putting 1 question per page
> 2. if a question is required, make "required" part of the question text
> 3. limit yourself to the more accessible types of questions
>
> This still won't make it totally accessible, but it would make it more
> usable.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Greg
>
> --
> Greg Kraus
> University IT Accessibility Coordinator
> NC State University
> 919.513.4087
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 1:39 PM, Jared Smith < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> > On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 11:26 AM, Karla Kmetz wrote:
> >> But I cannot figure out how to get into the code view so that I can
> fix them.
> >
> > You can't edit the underlying code in Google Docs or Forms. It would
> > be up to Google to fix these issues.
> >
> >> Multiple form labels associated with one field:
> >
> > This is a potential issue because screen reader generally only read
> > the first label that is encountered. If the first label is the
> > question text, it may not actually be an issue.
> >
> >> Orphaned form label
> >
> > This isn't really an issue. This check has been removed from WAVE5.
> > While having a label that is not associated to a control may indicate
> > that a form control *might* be mislabelled or unlabelled, the orphaned
> > label itself doesn't cause any issues. WAVE would, of course,
> > separately flag any form controls that are missing labels. This error
> > can probably be ignored.
> >
> >> Missing form label: This happens when I do not include Help Text with
> the
> >> question.
> >
> > This seems very odd. I would think the question should be the label
> > and that lack of help text shouldn't cause any issues.
> >
> >> Or are Google forms just not accessible?
> >
> > From what you describe, I'd say there seems to be issues with Google
> > forms. If you have an example form we could look at, I'm sure we could
> > provide a more definitive answer.
> >
> > Jared
> > > > > > > > > >



--
*Karla Kmetz, M.Ed.*
Instructional Designer
Distance Learning and Instructional Media Services
University of South Florida St. Petersburg, POY 239
Phone: 727-873-4474