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Re: Using Aria within a table to indicate thata cell is highlighted

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From: David Engebretson Jr.
Date: Jul 4, 2022 4:50PM

Thanks for the feedback, Kevin.



Any ideas how an assistive technology user, such as a screen reader user, could immediately jump to a highlighted data cell in a table?



I'm assuming that the question that was originally presented to the list by Geethavani.Shamanna was meant to improve the accessibility and usability of the highlighted data cell in the table.



Placing aria-current=”true” would probably work to make the table accessible (by WCAG standards) but a screen reader user would still have to hunt and peck around the table to find the highlighted data cell. Seems like the usability could really suffer unless there was something specific for any assistive technology user to quickly jump to.



Seems like it could be a usability nightmare if the table is large. I'd rather there be a quick and simple way to jump directly to the relevant information/data cell. That's why I suggested a heading. If a heading wrapping around a data cell fails WCAG, and not all assistive technology users have the functionality of “quick keys” like screen readers offer, then what could work to solve the problem Geethavani.Shamanna poses?





I think the original question from Geethavani.Shamanna is a good one and I'd sure like to know the answer!



Thanks again for your thoughts,

David





From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Kevin Prince
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2022 3:23 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] [EXTERNAL] Using Aria within a table to indicate that a cell is highlighted



Using a heading for this purpose would surely be a breach of 1.3.1 in implying a structure and relationship that does not exist.

Kevin Prince


Kevin Prince


Product Accessibility & Usability Consultant





Foster Moore


A Teranet Company






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