WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Forms, forms mode and static text interaction with Jaws.

for

From: Ramya Sethuraman
Date: Oct 8, 2012 10:04AM


Thanks Sailesh. The thing is, I have come across designs where there is
unrelated textual content between form
fields. It might be promotions, it might be terms, basically it could be a
paragraph saying anything not much related
to any of the fields. I like the role=complementary idea but if a user is
in forms mode navigating by tabbing through
the fields, won't he miss this static text content?

For eg: imagine a form within a dialog like this (pseudo code):

<form>
first name: <input field>
last name: <input field>
i am some random text not related to first name or last name or address
fields.
address: <addr field>
i am some more random text floating here within the form
</form>

How do you make sure a jaws user in forms mode navigating by tabbing
through the fields in this form reads the 2 paragraphs of static text?

Thanks for the prompt response,

Ramya


On Mon, Oct 8, 2012 at 11:35 AM, Sailesh Panchang <
<EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Ramya,
> My previous response never suggested you associate the entire
> paragraph via aria-describedby. In fact it was to the contrary.
> Secondly, the suggestion was associate the words "Please read terms"
> with the closest / related field.
> The solution is always with reference to the context and now in your
> latest message you mention promotional content unrelated to the form
> being placed between form controls.
> SoI'd suggest something different here.
> Consider using role="complementary" maybe with aria-label="(Current
> promotions)". Again it does not have to be tab-navigable.
> Maybe with HTML5, the 'aside' tag may work.
> Also if the paragraph has a heading or an image with text that might
> work like a heading, use an h<n> tag.
> Rightho,
> Sailesh
>
>
> On 10/8/12, Ramya Sethuraman < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> > Hey Sailesh
> >
> > Thanks. I can add the aria-describedby as you suggested except that it is
> > no an ideal solution:
> >
> > 1. I am associating text with a field when the paragraph has nothing to
> do
> > with the field. For eg: say the fields are first name, last name and
> > address and the text is, 'We also have a new offer blah blah'.
> >
> > 2. aria-describedby will force the screen reader to announce the entire
> > paragraph of text unless the user decides to stop the screen reader from
> > announcing it.
> >
> > It seems to me like there is no clearly defined way to support this
> > forms/non-forms mode currently with screen readers. Also, this is turning
> > out to be a fairly common use case. So, it's not feasible to tell
> designers
> > to only have focusable, interactable elements in a form within a dialog.
> >
> > I guess, for now, we make do with what we have?
> >
> > Many thanks for your response,
> >
> > Ramya
> > Facebook Accessibility.
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Oct 8, 2012 at 9:02 AM, Sailesh Panchang
> > < <EMAIL REMOVED>
> >> wrote:
> >
> >> Ramya,
> >> Not every piece of info in a form needs to be tab-navigable.
> >> Aria-describedby is alright for shorter Text such as data format tips,
> >> error messages that may be visible at all times or are displayed when
> >> the form control receives focus.
> >>
> >> Making a paragraph of text tab-navigable will make the text read out
> >> as a chunk ... not the best experience for users. Most users may
> >> prefer to read through the text separately.
> >> So one option is to place a checkbox:
> >> "I have read and agree to the terms below".
> >> If this is not possible, then place visible / off-screen text to the
> >> closest / related field, like 'Please read terms below / above); and
> >> associate it with aria-describedby.
> >> Sailesh Panchang
> >>
> >>
> >> On 10/6/12, Elle < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> >> > I don't know how people feel about the semantic nature of this
> >> suggestion,
> >> > but we have made some critical disclaimer information tab focusable in
> >> our
> >> > forms before to ensure that the information was not missed, even with
> >> older
> >> > screen readers, when navigating a form by tabbing.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Cheers,
> >> > Elle
> >> > > >> > > >> > > >> >
> >> > >> > >> > >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > *I also exist @: http://www.ramyasethuraman.com*
> > > > > > > >
> > > >



--
*I also exist @: http://www.ramyasethuraman.com*