Keyboard accessible links without onclick or functioning href

Historically I have considered links that are keyboard accessible via onKeyUp or similar mechanism but lack an onclick or working href to be a failure of accessibility standards.  These links are often mouse accessible as well via a onMouseUp or similar events.  These links don't work in browser mode with some screen readers unless the enter key is sent through as typically screen readers programmatically call the click event or issue some events that appear to be a click.  Because of this I would consider this a lack of accessibility support and potential device intendent event handling with other assistive technology as well.   Speech input users likely have similar issues and can activate the link via the keyboard or with a mouse grid but perhaps not with some other standard commands for activating links by voice such as "click link".

As you know - WCAG 2 didn't address device depend accessibility - but rather only requires keyboard accessibility - not even mouse access.  This is an issue that has come up with some of the proposed success criteria for WCAG 2.1 - but I'm not sure they fully address it as it's more of a programmatic activation without relying on a keyboard interface.

Do others see this as a current violation of WCAG 2 - if not - is there a need to address this in some of the proposed pointer requirements for WCAG 2.1 or beyond?

Best Regards,

Jonathan

Received on Sunday, 9 July 2017 19:26:36 UTC