WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: testing for keyboard accessibility

for

From: Bryan Garaventa
Date: Sep 24, 2012 11:08AM

It's important to note that screen reader accessibility is not the same
thing as keyboard accessibility, and it's possible to have one and not the
other, which would make it inaccessible regardless.

E.G

With the below referenced span tag, without tabindex=0, it won't be keyboard
accessible, and without a keyDown handler, it won't be actionable from the
keyboard.

Also, without a click handler, it won't be accessible for screen reader
users via JAWS for example, and without role=link to indicate an accessible
role for the object, it won't be recognizable as an actionable element for
screen reader users either.

All of these pieces need to come together in order to ensure full
accessibility, and there really isn't a way to automate everything.

I wrote an article about this not too long ago with a similar example at
http://lnkd.in/jYnkZq
if it helps.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Harshbarger" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
To: < <EMAIL REMOVED> >; "WebAIM Discussion List"
< <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 8:03 AM
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] testing for keyboard accessibility


> <span id="SCDDmwsp">Home</span>
>
> Like others have said...there probably isn't a fool-proof way for an
> automated tool to determine that the above is an interactive widget and
> exactly what keystrokes need to be used.
>
> However, you might be able to devise automated tests that verify that a
> drop down menu that was included in the design specs is present and works
> like the design specs say it should.
>
> So you might be able to automate testing that way. Of course, it does
> mean that accessibility needs to be considered during design and
> documented well enough to create tests.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>