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Re: preferred method for communicating password rules?

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From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Apr 2, 2013 3:42PM

Hi Angela

One method that seems to work quite well for screen reader users (at
least with Jaws) is to create the Password rule in a paragraph, give
it an ID and then use aria-describedby="id" for the password field.
See example from master Paul Adam here:
http://www.deque.com/accessible-client-side-form-validation-html5-wai-aria

(I submitted a bug to Freedom Scientific actually because Jaws does
not automatically read aria-describedby if user verbosity is set to
"advanced" but at least one can see the aria-describedby paragraph
right below the field even in that mode with arrow keys, even if it is
located elsewhere on the page).
Of course this may not work for keyboard users but then you might be
able to use a tooltip for these users, or use layout of visual clues
for them, something which I am rather bad at advising on.
cheers
-B

On 4/2/13, Angela French < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Hello,
> I'm wondering if there is a preferred, or best practice, method for
> displaying information (rules) for password creation that is most efficient
> for screen reader users and keyboard users. I am envisioning an
> "information" graphic icon.. When the icon receives focus it could display
> a tool tip with the password creation rules. I'm guessing that this would
> need to be placed in front of the <label> tag so that it is read first.
>
> My concern though, is that I don't really know how forms mode works. Does
> forms mode just navigate the user to each form element in the order in which
> they appear in the source code, and thus would miss my icon?
>
> Any suggestions appreciated.
>
>
>
> Angela French
> Internet Specialist
> State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
> 360-704-4316
> <EMAIL REMOVED>
> http://www.checkoutacollege.com/
>
> > > >