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Re: Links open in new tab or window in LMS

for

From: Krista Greear
Date: Oct 5, 2018 4:07PM


Let's say that the LMS does NOT have any type of visual cue about how the
link is going to interact. So it's a usability and an accessibility issue
(does not tell the AT user what's happening).

Considering I can't fix the LMS, how should I handle the links within the
LMS?

On Fri, Oct 5, 2018 at 11:05 AM Swift, Daniel P. < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Thanks for the clarification, Glen - much appreciated!
>
> Dan Swift
> Senior Web Specialist
> Enterprise Services
> West Chester University
> 610.738.0589
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On
> Behalf Of glen walker
> Sent: Friday, October 5, 2018 12:51 PM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Links open in new tab or window in LMS
>
> You're not necessarily wrong, but there isn't a WCAG requirement that a
> link must indicate it opens in a new window. 2.4.4 talks about the link
> purpose, and if the purpose of the link (go to site "foo") is understood,
> then whether that link opens in the same window or a new window is somewhat
> separate. You might argue that part of the "purpose" is to also tell the
> user it will open in a new window, but 2.4.4 doesn't specifically say
> that. That's why it's more of a usability issue, as Joe stated.
>
> And in general, and this is a super broad statement, accessibility deals
> with things that are available to some users but not others. That is,
> equal access is not given to all users. If all users have the same access,
> then it's typically not an accessibility issue. In this case, if the link
> does not indicate it opens a new window, meaning no users know it will open
> in a new window, then it's not an accessibility issue. It's a usability
> issue. All users have the same access and get the same (bad) experience.
>
> Glen
> > > at http://webaim.org/discussion/archives
> > > > > >


--
Krista Greear
Accessibility and Inclusivity Crusader