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Re: Info widgets with role="dialog"

for

From: Jared Smith
Date: Jan 21, 2015 11:04AM

Birkir R. Gunnarsson wrote:
> The ARIA authoring spec recommends role="document" on static text as
> well as tabindex="0" to make sure infomration stays in focus order

Interesting. I'm not quite sure I agree with the suggestion that a
simple message dialog be given the dialog role and the message itself
role=document and tabindex=0. It seems much easier and more intuitive
to simply NOT give the pop-up role="dialog" and allow the natural
reading process of the screenreader to access the text message.

Of course doing has the possibility that the user would hit Tab and
bypass the message altogether. On the other hand, using role="dialog"
and tabindex has the potential for confusion because of the
intermingling of the focusable message that isn't interactive and
other application elements that are.

Either approach has disadvantages and potential for confusion. Without
user data, I think I must (rather reluctantly) favor the documented
recommendations in the spec - role=dialog for all pop-ups and
role=document and tabindex on all non-application stuff within them.

Jared