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Re: Fourth rule of aria > aria-hidden

for

From: Jonathan Avila
Date: Jan 22, 2018 10:46AM

> I am primarily thinking of map components. A keyboard only user needs to be able to operate the map controls, but to a screen reader the map clutters up the page. Assuming there is an accessible alterantive to get text instructions or perform the primary function of the map,, isn't it valid (though not desireable) use of aria-hidden to hide the map and its controls from the screen reader user?

It is my understanding that the specifications indicate that browsers should expose focused aria-hidden content in the accessibility API in order to prevent nothing from being announced by screen readers.

Consider that there may be a number of people with low vision that can benefit from keyboard support and tex-to-speech. Skip links, landmarks, or other techniques can be used to allow screen reader users to skip past if they want. Seems like many screen readers will likely be using the browser cursor anyway and will encounter or pass the information as desired with those navigation commands.

Jonathan

Jonathan Avila
Chief Accessibility Officer
Level Access, inc. (formerly SSB BART Group, inc.)
<EMAIL REMOVED>
703.637.8957 (Office)
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