WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Thread: Pop-up dismiss question

for

Number of posts in this thread: 3 (In chronological order)

From: Hewitt,Susan (DSHS)
Date: Thu, Dec 05 2013 7:57AM
Subject: Pop-up dismiss question
No previous message | Next message →

I need some input on interpreting this standard in regards to pop-ups:

"WCAG 2.0 A - 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap: If keyboard focus can be moved to a component of the page using a keyboard interface, then focus can be moved away from that component using only a keyboard interface, and, if it requires more than unmodified arrow or tab keys or other standard exit methods, the user is advised of the method for moving focus away. (Level A)"

What constitutes "other standard exit methods"? If there is not an explicit (accessible) method in the box such as a "x to close" or buttons allowing the user to close the window, would keystrokes such as ctrl-w or esc be acceptable? If so, we're assuming all users know a shortcut for dismissing windows. What about users with AT devices other than keyboards?

Thanks,

Susan Hewitt
EIR Accessibility Coordinator
Texas Department of State Health Services
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > | 512-776-2913

From: Don Mauck
Date: Thu, Dec 05 2013 10:15AM
Subject: Re: Pop-up dismiss question
← Previous message | Next message →

Escape and control+w are accepted and fine. While it can never be assumed that the user will just know that escape will work, we have chosen to put an OK button as well as a message at the bottom of the popup stating that escape will close the popup. I'm not sure about devices other than a keyboard, maybe the OK button is a way to resolve that.

From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Thu, Dec 05 2013 11:36AM
Subject: Re: Pop-up dismiss question
← Previous message | No next message

I would always recommend putting an "ok" or "close" button in a pop up.
Escape is a known user interaction for dismissing dialogs and closing
windows, certainly, but, as you pointed out, we cannot be sure all
users know that, nor can we be sure that the equivalent of "escape" is
available on all types of mobile devices (I do not know how to
simulate the escape key on my iPhone, I know a gesture for dismissing
iOS dialogs which may be maps to the same thing).
I think it would be a risky user interface design in general to expect
the users to have to know keyboard interactions to interact with your
interface (beyond the very basic ones, and I do not consider escape to
fall into that category with regards to the web).
Cheers
-Birkir
Accessibility Subject Matter Expert | Deque Systems


On 12/5/13, Don Mauck < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Escape and control+w are accepted and fine. While it can never be assumed
> that the user will just know that escape will work, we have chosen to put an
> OK button as well as a message at the bottom of the popup stating that
> escape will close the popup. I'm not sure about devices other than a
> keyboard, maybe the OK button is a way to resolve that.
>