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Re: Screen Reader Question

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From: Stacy Canaras
Date: Dec 6, 2001 3:14PM


I have the same problem.
still looking for answer




Stacy_Canaras@hyperion

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Question




12/06/01 03:42 PM

Please respond to

WebAIM forum









Hi All!

I am new to this list, so I'm sure you have already answered this question
before. However, I would be very grateful if someone would help me out on
this one. I am in charge of making the web applications in my company
accessible. Our products use a lot of data tables in its interface. I
have read a lot on the topic and all the books suggest putting header and
ID tags to index the individual cell so while it is being read, the screen
reader will tell you which row and column it is in.

For example:

<TABLE border="1"
summary="This table charts the number of cups
of coffee consumed by each senator, the type
of coffee (decaf or regular), and whether
taken with sugar.">
<CAPTION>Cups of coffee consumed by each senator</CAPTION>
<TR>
<TH id="t1">Name</TH>
<TH id="t2">Cups</TH>
<TH id="t3" abbr="Type">Type of Coffee</TH>
<TH id="t4">Sugar?</TH>
<TR>
<TD headers="t1">T. Sexton</TD>
<TD headers="t2">10</TD>
<TD headers="t3">Espresso</TD>
<TD headers="t4">No</TD>
<TR>
<TD headers="t1">J. Dinnen</TD>
<TD headers="t2">5</TD>
<TD headers="t3">Decaf</TD>
<TD headers="t4">Yes</TD>
</TABLE>


Some screen readers would read the following table like:
It would read the caption and summary (which JAWS does do), but then would
read:
Name: T. Sexton, Cups: 10, Type: Expresso, Sugar: No
Name: J. Dinnen Cups: 5, Type: Decaf, Sugar: Yes

JAWS (which I found out at a recent seminar has over 80% of the market
share would read it like:
Name Cups Type Sugar
T. Sexton, 10, Expresso, No
J. Dinnen, 5, Decaf, Yes

JAWS apparently does not read the ID tags so it doesn't index the
individual data cell. I also checkedHomePage Reader and Outspoken and they
read it the same as JAWS. Does anyone know if any of the screen readers
read the id tags?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Stacy Canaras
Sr. User Interface Engineer
Hyperion Solutions
900 Long Ridge Road
Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 703-3323




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