Re: HTML5 implementor feedback requested - title attribute accessibility mapping

Hi Dave,

> There are probably nuances to this I'm not thinking of, but I would probably advocate for the usage of aria-label here except perhaps where the usage of title-as-tooltip converges with title-as-accessible-naming-technique.
>
> Does that make sense?

 Title attribute use in the circumstances outlined in the techniques
cited is a common accessibility usage and very well supported across
browsers and AT, I would be reluctant to advocate the use of
aria-label over the use of title in these cases as
a) we would be encouraging use of ARIA over an established native HTML
feature usage pattern
b) we would be encouraging use of a less well supported method, which
for the forseeable future would result in some users not having access
to  accessible name information.

best regards
Steve

On 13 December 2011 16:16, David Bolter <dbolter@mozilla.com> wrote:
> There are probably nuances to this I'm not thinking of, but I would probably advocate for the usage of aria-label here except perhaps where the usage of title-as-tooltip converges with title-as-accessible-naming-technique.
>
> Does that make sense?
>
> Cheers,
> David
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Steve Faulkner" <faulkner.steve@gmail.com>
>> To: "david bolter" <david.bolter@gmail.com>
>> Cc: "Adrian Bateman" <adrianba@microsoft.com>, "Maciej Stachowiak" <mjs@apple.com>, "Anne van Kesteren"
>> <annevk@opera.com>, "L. David Baron" <dbaron@dbaron.org>, "HTMLWG WG" <public-html@w3.org>, "Sam Ruby"
>> <rubys@intertwingly.net>, "Paul Cotton" <Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com>, "Ian Hickson" <ian@hixie.ch>, "HTML Accessibility
>> Task Force" <public-html-a11y@w3.org>, "David Bolter" <dbolter@mozilla.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 11:08:36 AM
>> Subject: Re: HTML5 implementor feedback requested - title attribute accessibility mapping
>> Hi dave,
>>
>> so in your opinion is use of the title attribute to provide an
>> accessible name for an element an acceptable method in some cases?
>>
>> for example in the following WCAG 2.0 techniques it recommends the
>> title attribute for form controls
>>
>> "The objective of this technique is to use the title attribute to
>> label form controls when the visual design cannot accommodate the
>> label "
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/H65
>>
>> or the the use of the title attribute to identify iframe and frame
>> elments:
>> "The use of title as described in this technique is recommended "
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG-TECHS/H64.html
>>
>> regards
>> stevef
>>
>> On 13 December 2011 15:46, david bolter <david.bolter@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> > I don't expect we (Mozilla) will stop using the title attribute
>> > value as a
>> > last resort in attempting to provide an accessible name, that would
>> > regress
>> > accessibility.
>> >
>> > My opinion.
>> >
>> > Cheers,
>> > David
>> >
>> >
>> > On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 6:54 AM, Steve Faulkner
>> > <faulkner.steve@gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Hi Adrian, Maciej, Anne and David
>> >> (note: if there is a more approriate implementor representative
>> >> this
>> >> email should go to please advise)
>> >>
>> >> Your feedback on this would be appreciated.
>> >>
>> >> The title attribute as implemented (in all browsers that implement
>> >> accessibility support) is mapped to the accessible name in all
>> >> accessibility APIs in all browsers (that implement mapping), so in
>> >> the
>> >> absence of other labelling mechanisms, all HTML form controls are
>> >> labelled by the title attribute content if present. The same goes
>> >> for
>> >> most other HTML elements. This reality is not reflected in the
>> >> usage
>> >> advice in the spec.
>> >>
>> >> There is a WCAG technique that documents how to use the title
>> >> attribute to label controls: H65: Using the title attribute to
>> >> identify form controls when the label element cannot be used
>> >> http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/H65
>> >>
>> >> There is another WCAG 2.0 technique that documents how to use the
>> >> title attribute to identify frame and iframe elements
>> >> H64: Using the title attribute of the frame and iframe elements
>> >> http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG-TECHS/H64.html
>> >>
>> >> The HTML5 specification does not provide any advice on how the
>> >> title
>> >> attribute content is used (as detailed above).
>> >> I filed a bug https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=14740
>> >>
>> >> the rationale provided by the HTML5 editor for its rejection:
>> >>
>> >> "Rationale: If browsers map it in a manner inconsistent with its
>> >> meaning,
>> >> that
>> >> should be fixed."
>> >>
>> >> Do any implementors have any plans to change the current
>> >> implementation in browsers to match the HTML5 specification
>> >> meaning?
>> >>
>> >> i.e. are there any plans to stop mapping the title attribute to the
>> >> accessible name in accessibility APIs? So that it does not provide
>> >> a
>> >> label for controls and other elements?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> with regards
>> >> Stevef
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> with regards
>>
>> Steve Faulkner
>> Technical Director - TPG
>>
>> www.paciellogroup.com | www.HTML5accessibility.com |
>> www.twitter.com/stevefaulkner
>> HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives -
>> dev.w3.org/html5/alt-techniques/
>> Web Accessibility Toolbar -
>> www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html



-- 
with regards

Steve Faulkner
Technical Director - TPG

www.paciellogroup.com | www.HTML5accessibility.com |
www.twitter.com/stevefaulkner
HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives -
dev.w3.org/html5/alt-techniques/
Web Accessibility Toolbar - www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html

Received on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 20:17:56 UTC