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Interactive Elements on Older Technologies - ARIA vs Screen Reader Text

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From: Graham Armfield
Date: Jul 14, 2015 5:02AM

I'm working with a client at the moment on a website that contains
interactivity like modals, accordions, tab panels, etc. And I'm familiar
with all the necessary ARIA attributes that would be required to help site
visitors with AT work with these interactive elements.

However, there is a requirement to support some older browsers and site
visitors on earlier Android platforms - some with little or no ARIA support.

I'm thinking that judicious deployment of some screen reader text to
explain what elements are for and whether they are selected/expanded would
help the users on the older technologies.

But my question is, should I deploy those alongside the full ARIA solution
too? I'm thinking yes, as I'd rather not degrade the experience for those
on more modern technologies that do support ARIA. However I am concerned
that doing so may create a lot of extra noise for those on ARIA supporting
technologies.

What are your views on a sensible way forward here?


​Thank
s
Graham Armfield



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