WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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Re: Accessible Drop Down menus using Form tag

for

From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Nov 29, 2006 6:20AM


>> Does anyone know why this method is considered the best, apart from
>> that it doesn't use JavaScript?
>
>I would assume because it doesn't use an "onchange" event,
>which is tricky with a keyboard. Unless you know a particular
>key-combination (possibly alt-down?) the event fires on the
>first change.

I took a quick look at the Before and After demos. That seems to be the
difference between them with regards to the drop down list--the example
with the accessibility problems takes you to the new page as soon as you
press the down arrow--unless you use alt+down arrow first. In the
accessible example, you need to press the Go button before it will act
on your new selection.

I need to look at my browser history from last night. I came across a
site that did what the bad example does--and I was even having problems
getting the alt+down arrow trick to work. It is really
frustrating--especially when it appears that all that stands between
where you are and where you want to be is a little widget with an
annoying behaviour.

Tim