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JAWS13 has broken ARIA functionality that previously worked in JAWS12

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From: Bryan Garaventa
Date: May 11, 2012 1:10PM

FYI

It appears that JAWS13 has introduced critical functionality issues regarding the use of ARIA, which worked correctly in JAWS12.

So here is a breakdown.

ARIA Tabs and Dropdown Menus: (Uses ARIA tab and menu attribute sets according to spec)
http://whatsock.com/modules/aria_tabs_menu_modules/demo.htm#
Regarding ARIA tabs
In JAWS12, tabs are announced in full when using the 'f' and shift+f hotkeys to jump between tabs on the page. (E.G. 'Tab Dialog')
In JAWS13, only "Tab" is announced, which is non-intuitive.
Regarding ARIA menus
In JAWS12, when the menu is opened, you can use the arrow keys to navigate properly since Applications Mode is enforced within the menu objects.
In JAWS13, Applications Mode is no longer enforced, so it is no longer possible to navigate ARIA menus properly.

Auto Suggest Search Field: (Uses ARIA role=dialog and list attribute sets according to spec)
http://whatsock.com/modules/auto_suggestion_search_field_module/demo.htm
In JAWS12, when alt+downarrow is used to provide screen reader access to the search list, only the first item selected is announced as expected. (Type "u" then press alt+downarrow after the list appears to reproduce)
In JAWS13, all of the contents of the container element are announced instead of just the focused element.

ARIA Sortable Listbox: (Uses ARIA role=dialog, list, and grab/drop attribute sets according to spec)
http://whatsock.com/modules/aria_sortable_listbox_module/demo.htm
In JAWS12, After the Sort button is pressed, focus moves into the list box and the currently selected item is announced. Then you can arrow to the item you wish to grab, press the Spacebar, arrow to another item, and press the Spacebar again to drop the item in that location. (Only the currently selected item is announced)
In JAWS13, the entire content of the container element with role=dialog is announced every time the listbox is opened, and every time you press Spacebar to drop an item in another location.

It looks like JAWS13 is programmed to read all of the content of a container element with role=dialog every time an element receives focus within that container.

ARIA Calendar: (Uses a combination of role=dialog, role=link, and aria-label attributes according to spec)
http://whatsock.com/modules/aria_calendar_module/demo.htm
In JAWS12, when you activate the Advanced Calendar link, focus is set on the current date which is announced as expected. Pressing the Spacebar will open the Comments dialog, where focus is set on the text field and the label is automatically announced also as expected. You can then tab between the available buttons where each focused element is announced. (Only the label for the currently selected item is announced)
In JAWS13, as soon as focus is moved to the first selected date, all of the calendar content is announced starting from where role=dialog is used within the parent container element. The same behavior occurs when Spacebar is pressed to open the Comments dialog, as well as every time tab is used to move between the buttons within the Comments dialog.
This is the same issue as previously described regarding the behavior of role=dialog.

ARIA Wizard and Carousel: () (Uses ARIA role=status, aria-live, role=dialog, and aria-labelledby according to spec)
http://whatsock.com/modules/carousel_from_xml_module/demo.htm
Regarding the carousel
In JAWS12, The announcement of text using role=status and aria-live=assertive appears to be more reliable when using the accesskeys to switch between carousel slides. (E.G. alt+1 and alt+2 in IE)
In JAWS13, text announcement does not occur as regularly.
Regarding the XML Wizard
In JAWS12, focus is set on the first form field of the wizard after the Generate button is pressed, where tab can be used to cycle between available form fields. (Only the label for the currently selected form field is announced)
In JAWS13 however, the entire content of the dialog is announced before the label of the first form field that gains focus, starting with the parent container element that includes role=dialog.

Accessible Lightbox, Banner, Tooltip, and Popup: (Uses ARIA role=status and aria-live according to spec)
http://whatsock.com/modules/standard_dynamic_control_templates/demo.htm
In JAWS12, the announcement of text using role=status and aria-live=assertive appears to be more reliable.
In JAWS13, sometimes text that should be announced using role=status and aria-live=assertive, is not.

This was verified using the latest public releases of JAWS12 and 13 using IE8 on Win XP Pro SP3. If you would like to add IE9 and Win7 testing results to this for comparison, please do.