Re: test of contrast with styled form controls

Jim,

I'm struggling with coming up with an excellent design pattern for disabled
form controls that:

1)  Clearly indicates that the form control is not currently available
AND
2)  Allows a person with low vision to see the disabled form control.

It is a bit of a conundrum for me.  I keep wondering if the way to solve
the problem is to stop trying to do it with low contrast...and instead use
a visually clear indicator of "unavailable".

For example, when selecting seats on an airplane, unavailable seats may be
clearly indicated with an "X" that everyone can see (and also with
alternative text that clearly conveys this visual information to a screen
reader).

I'm not a designer...but I keep thinking of the classic red circle with a
slanted line through it to mean "no", or an "x" laid on top of something
(or beside it) or a strike through line.

I'll be interested to see what others think/suggest.  I don't want to give
up on this problem just because there isn't an easy, obvious answer.  I
mean, seriously, if Apple could figure out how to make touch screens
accessible...surely we can come up with a creative and elegant solution for
disabled controls that makes it better for all users (says the optimistic
goodwitch).

Glenda

glenda sims    |   team a11y lead   |    deque.com    |    512.963.3773


*web for everyone. web on everything.* -  w3 goals

On Thu, Nov 10, 2016 at 1:50 PM, Jim Allan <jimallan@tsbvi.edu> wrote:

> Create a page http://w3c.github.io/low-vision-SC/contrast-styled-
> forms.html
>
> styled the enabled form controls to have a border contrast of 4.5:1
> styled the disabled form controls to have a border contrast of 3.0:1
>
> ​Note: IE 10 and FF do not allow radio button or checkbox border styling.
> Other controls can be styled.  Webkit browsers (chrome, safari, et al)​
> allow styling of all controls.
>
> What do you think? is there enough contrast between enabled and disabled
> controls?
>
> please comment to me or the list. I will compile results.
>
> --
> Jim Allan, Accessibility Coordinator
> Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
> 1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
> voice 512.206.9315    fax: 512.206.9264  http://www.tsbvi.edu/
> "We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." McLuhan, 1964
>