Form accessibility++

toString

toString

toString

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
9,038
Location
London
Having some problems with blind users filling in my form. It's in a table and follows the same logic as the field below. Some are required fields, others aren't. This one is a required field...

My code:

Code: 
<tr>
	<td><label for="Address1"><strong>Address 1<span style="color:#c00">*</span></strong></label></td>
	<td><input type="text" name="Address1" size="40" id="Address1" value="" /></td>
</tr>




User:

'Unfortunately if the only way to indicate the important areas to fill in on the form is through a visual reference of red highlights, then this is an inaccessible process for us as we are all visually impaired and use audio screen readers to access web sites.
We direct you to the RNIB site:
http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_forms.hcsp
'



The RNIB suggests that:

'Use an asterisk "*" to highlight information that has been filled out incorrectly or which is compulsory. Ensure that the "*" is grouped with the text label. Note that there is no reason why the "*" cannot be coloured, in red for example, to draw attention to it as, combining the symbol and colour means that this does not rely on colour alone.'
Click to expand...




User:

'Hi, What you have gathered from RNIB is quite correct. I would still have a problem with entering the box that has to be filled out - that is as a totally blind person. We are told that, usually, if we hit the space bar it will open the box but it doesn't always work - merely moves the reading cursor elsewhere. If you let us know when you've altered your website format in accordance with the star idea, we'll be happy to try it again.'



Does anyone know what should be done to impove my form for these users?

Many thanks for any input! :)
 
to start with I would ditch the tables layout if your trying to make this form more accessable to screen readers. Then use a css style sheet insted of your current inline styling.

Finally I think the best way would to just include the word "Required" after the textbox's that are required. Like the report says don't use colours and symbols such as "*" even though the colours and the symbols have the correct meaning to you and me they might not be universally recognised and definatly will not be by a screen reader. By using the word "required" it makes it very clear what is and isn't required on the form.
 
Last edited:
Sorry wrong wordings by me :)

what I should have said was, The report is saying using colours and the "*" should be fine but I'm saying that both these are fine for normal users and probably should still be included but both of these are of no use to users of screen readers.

It would be better to use the word "required" insted of just the "*" as it has a clearer meaning not only to screen reader users but to everyone using the form.
 
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