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Re: Drop-down menus using javaScript to navigate and Accessibility Issues

for

From: julian.rickards@ndm.gov.on.ca
Date: May 28, 2004 11:13AM


-----Original Message-----
From: susan.grossman [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]

> How would you suggest handling the requirement of these
> navigational/actionable drop-down menus? Additional text
> links at page bottom? Is there an accessible script hack?


We have a similar function on our website which may not be quite as
accessible as I thought because it also uses onChange and therefore does not
support keyboard activation. However, what I did was to insert a submit
button within a block.

Here is some of the code:



Select from list
First Page
Second Page
...




and jumpmenu.asp is:

<%
RedirectURL = "http://www.domainname.com" &amp;
Request.QueryString("RedirectURL")
Response.Redirect RedirectURL
%>

If JS is enabled, the JS jump script function runs. If JS is disabled, the
submit (Go!) button is displayed and via the ASP redirect function, the
person is taken to the selected page.

There may be some lingering questions regarding whether onChange provides
keyboard support or if another trigger is better and secondly, does a screen
reader user understand what we are presenting and how it works. Regarding
#2, this type of functionality is quite common so I suspect that screen
reader users understand the process.

HTH,

Jules

---------------------------------------------------------
Julian Rickards
Digital Publications Distribution Coordinator
Publications Services Section
Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Phone: (705) 670-5608
Fax: (705) 670-5690