Re: how to code strikethroughs for a screenreader

What?
generally, we should *not* be hacking things just for screen readers.
Did anyone ask the screen reader developers if they support strike-through?
ask about super-script, sub-script, italics, etc. while you're asking.

If it isn't supported by the screen reader, then its a screen reader bug!
that needs to be fixed / supported.

but I believe it is supported via a user setting. For example, See
JAWS Techniques for Examining Text Formatting

However, I'm not sure JAWS supports styling like
"text-decoration:line-through" because it may not really be a text
attribute.

From 2005, a thread said:
Now, with my settings on "attributes", my JAWS is also reading
"strikethrough".
If this is not clear, or what you get is not what you expected, please
consult your help for JAWS.
___________
Regards,
Phill Jenkins




From: <alands289@gmail.com>
To: Char Easter <ceaster@seattletimes.com>, "w3c-wai-ig@w3.org"
            <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Date: 03/03/2020 05:08 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: how to code strikethroughs for a screenreader



Char,

That is a very interesting question.

Here is what I do that works great.

On the product pages with strikethrough text, strikethrough text is not
announced by screen readers. Therefore, non-visual users will not have
communicated to them that the original price is no longer valid and thus
“striked through”. The text will need further coding.
How is this a problem:
Non-visual users will not understand what the two different prices mean
when the screen reader announces them. This may be during a read all of the
page, a virtual read of the text or text announced from a link.
How to fix:
Add a span before the strike through amount with the words original price
(or equivalent term). Have the span be your supported visuallyhidden class
so it does not show on the screen.
<span class=""visuallyhidden"">Original price</span>
<span style=""text-decoration: line-through"">$70.00</span>

I hope this helps.

Alan Smith

From: Char Easter
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2020 5:31 PM
To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: how to code strikethroughs for a screenreader

Hello,

Is there a way a screen reader can read a strikethrough on text so a screen
reader user can interpret the meaning/intent?

Thanks,

Char Easter
UX Designer at The Seattle Times
p: 206.464.2945
e: ceaster@seattletimes.com
m: 206.779.2427