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RE: Table headers not behaving

for

From: Paul Bohman
Date: Sep 10, 2002 3:25PM

>>Holly Marie wrote:
Unfortunately, complicated data in tables works well and best for the
majority of the visiting audience when placed in such a layout. Data
will not work as well or may not be as usable in text or linear format.

My response:
You're right. Tables usually are the best method to display data. Where
data need to be shown, put them in a table and mark it up correctly.
However, it's good to be aware of the JAWS bug with spanned rows/columns
so that those who want to ensure that tables created that way can be
made accessible to JAWS users by creating a linearized version. The
linearized version will be unfriendly to most people, and is offered as
an alternative, not a replacement for the table. Similarly, the table
version will be unfriendly to JAWS users due to the JAWS bug.

As a general rule, though, we should code to the standards. Doing so
will ensure that the content is accessible to the greatest number of
people, software, and devices. The exceptions to this rule are few. The
spanned rows and columns is an exception. And yes, it is Freedom
Scientific's responsibility to fix it.

Paul Bohman
Technology Coordinator
WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind)
www.webaim.org
Center for Persons with Disabilities
www.cpd.usu.edu
Utah State University
www.usu.edu




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