WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

RE: Long form legends

for

From: Mike Foskett
Date: Jun 1, 2005 9:50AM


> 1) Use control type TEXT in place of RADIO BUTTONS,

I'd have to completely disagree with that statement.
Radio buttons have been in HTML since the year dot.
But it does make a difference whether the descriptive text is pre or post input.

All user agents are supposed to ignore elements they do not understand.

I still stand by using a heading element in place of legend.
Users who only tab the focus through input elements are going to miss information on almost every site, accessible or not.

A radio button should be used when there are more than two options.
If a simple yes / no response is required then a checkbox is usually more suitable.

<input type="checkbox" id="Q6_0" name="Q6_0" />
<label for="Q6_0">I will need support while on-site volunteering or doing community service.</label>


Mike 2k:)2

____________________________________________________________________________________
Mike Foskett
Web Standards, Accessibility & Testing Consultant
Multimedia Publishing and Production
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta)
Milburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry CV4 7JJ
Email: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Tel: 02476 416994 Ext 3342 [Tuesday - Thursday]
Fax: 02476 411410
www.becta.org.uk
____________________________________________________________________________________



-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Jedenfelt [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
Sent: 01 June 2005 15:36
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Long form legends

Hello Joelle,

I have two suggestions:

1) Use control type TEXT in place of RADIO BUTTONS, and do not use FIELDSET / LEGEND.

2) The option to copy and paste the form questions into an E-mail program, by way of a linking to a text page from the form Web page.
(I do not know if this is practical, just a thought.)

Regarding suggestion 1.

According to the AFB Web site (American Foundation for the Blind), FIELDSET and RADIO BUTTONS, are not consistently supported by user agents. (See below quotes.)

(I do not know if your users are affected by this. Also, I do not know when this AFB page was updated.)

http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=57&;TopicID=167&DocumentID=2375&Mode=Print

QUOTE
Fieldset approach is not supported by all forms and versions of assistive technology.

Radio buttons are not supported consistently by all versions of browsers, screen readers, and combinations.
UNQUOTE

EXAMPLE of suggestion 1.
(I do not know if below technique may be useful in practice.)

You would control the layout by the selectors P and LABEL, and not FIELDSET / LEGEND (which I understand caused some trouble.)

I have edited the text of the labels.

<p><label>
Will you be doing things out in the community, and if so, do you need assistance with arranging transportation?
<input type="text" value="Enter Yes or No"> </label></p>

<p><label>
Could I get a ride with someone who is already involved in the organization?
<input type="text" value="Enter Yes or No"> </label></p>

<p><label>
Give name of the persons who could help you find a ride?
<input type="text" value="Enter names"> </label></p>

<p><label>
Do you need extra time to complete some activities and assignments?
<input type="text" value="Enter Yes or No"> </label></p>

<p><label>
What kind of support would you need from someone while you are actually on-site volunteering or doing community service?
<input type="text" value="text">
</label></p>


Regards,
Thomas Jedenfelt

--
_______________________________________________
Surf the Web in a faster, safer and easier way:
Download Opera 8 at http://www.opera.com

Powered by Outblaze
_______________________________________________
To manage your subscription, visit http://list.webaim.org/ Address list messages to <EMAIL REMOVED>





**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.
www.mimesweeper.com
**********************************************************************