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Reading order of details links?

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From: Angela French
Date: Jun 1, 2017 3:50PM

Hello,
I am reviewing an old web application for improvements that can be made for accessibility. A frequent piece of functionality in the application is to make a query to the database based on user-selected criteria. The returned results are then displayed in a data table. In a number of cases, the very first column of each row contains a link that reads "details" and provides the user the opportunity to drill down and see more information about the item.

My concern is with having this link in the first column. It seems to me it is asking the screen reader user to decide about something they haven't "seen" yet. It seems they would have to read the data in the row, then back up to select the "view" link.

Another instance we have which is similar to this is a returned row of data where the first column is a checkbox for each row. An action is made to those items which have been selected. Again, the screen reader user is being asked to select something before they know what the "something" is.

Am I getting too in the weeds here, so to speak, or is my concern valid? Other than putting the actionable items in the far right column, which may slowdown keyboard users, is there another UI approach I might take to level the efficiency playing field?

Thank you for your opinion and/or links to examples of solution ideas.




Angela French
Internet/Intranet Specialist
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
360-704-4316
<EMAIL REMOVED> <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> >
www.sbctc.edu<;http://www.sbctc.edu/>;