Re: Is the escape key sufficient as a method for WCAG 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap

They actually are indeed links, each within a listitem.

On 12/12/2022 6:46 PM, Adam Cooper wrote:
>
> Are the elements in the dropdown natively (tab) focusable? That is, is 
> the dropdown a list of links or similar? If so, then also presuming 
> that appropriate role semantics for items in this dropdown have not 
> been applied … in which case, it may also fail 4.1.2. otherwise, 
> sequential tab focus can only be achieved using JS.
>
> *From:*Greg Jellin <greg@gregjellin.com>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 13, 2022 1:31 PM
> *To:* Adam Cooper <cooperad@bigpond.com>; 'Quentin Christensen' 
> <quentin@nvaccess.org>
> *Cc:* 'Wai-Ig' <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
> *Subject:* Re: Is the escape key sufficient as a method for WCAG 2.1.2 
> No Keyboard Trap
>
> Adam, you may be happy to know that the pattern in question does also 
> allow navigating the list via arrow keys, in addition to tab, and that 
> enter/space and click all select the focused option. IMO, the pattern 
> is quite usable for keyboard-only and SR users, but I agree that 
> eliminating tabbing from the listbox would allow users to more easily 
> move onto the next element.
>
> Greg
>
> On 12/12/2022 6:03 PM, Adam Cooper wrote:
>
>     Greg,
>
>     The term ‘functionality’ in success criterion 2.1.1 is the key term.
>
>     In WCAG 2.x, it is defined as “processes and outcomes achievable
>     through user action”.
>
>     It is arguable that ‘processes and outcomes’ are user tasks such
>     as ‘select an option from a listbox’ rather than interaction
>     behaviours.
>
>     WCAG is mute as to whether the dropdown remains visible after
>     focus is moved on or whether a user has to press TAB umpteen
>     thousand times or even that whether the ESC is an appropriate key
>     as long as a desired option can be selected from the dropdown
>     using a keyboard …
>
>     You may want to look at SC2.4.3 in which the understanding section
>     implies that preserving operability may actually be about
>     navigational efficiency … cue the howls of protest.
>
>     It’s a shame that WCAG is overshadowed by this kind of
>     technocratic exegesis as it obscures its generalised intent of
>     making the web more accessible for people like me … and, for me,
>     that’s about making using it not only effective but also,
>     efficient and satisfying.
>
>     Why should it take me more time and effort to perform a simple
>     task like selecting an option from a dropdown just because I have
>     a vision impairment?
>
>     *From:*Greg Jellin <greg@gregjellin.com> <mailto:greg@gregjellin.com>
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, December 13, 2022 12:15 PM
>     *To:* Quentin Christensen <quentin@nvaccess.org>
>     <mailto:quentin@nvaccess.org>
>     *Cc:* Adam Cooper <cooperad@bigpond.com>
>     <mailto:cooperad@bigpond.com>; Wai-Ig <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
>     <mailto:w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
>     *Subject:* Re: Is the escape key sufficient as a method for WCAG
>     2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap
>
>     Quentin, perhaps you missed the part where I said I agreed and
>     will advocate for the solution Adam proposed. I agree with pretty
>     much everything you said, but there is also the reality of
>     people's positions and reach within an organization. In this case
>     I'm external to the org and have limited reach. That won't stop me
>     from making suggestions with those I have access to.
>
>     On 12/12/2022 5:06 PM, Quentin Christensen wrote:
>
>         There is also an unfortunate trend of shaping the argument
>         around undesirable but "trendy" behaviour in order check off a
>         criteria on a list rather than actually meeting the user need.
>
>         Aiming to meet WCAG compliance is good, but surely you should
>         be aiming to make the interface USEABLE for the people for
>         whom WCAG was designed to help.
>
>         You've got a direct response from a screen reader user arguing
>         that whether or not your interface technically meets WCAG, it
>         is not useable for screen reader users, and your response
>         could be taken as "my job is to check off a list, not make it
>         work".  And I appreciate that you personally likely didn't
>         write the interface and that your job is to check off WCAG
>         compliance on the project, and I'm not intending to attack you
>         personally.  BUT, part of that job is also ensuring that the
>         company isn't flooded with user complaints saying their
>         product is not accessible - they'll come back to you and say
>         "But you said it was accessible and met WCAG!".
>
>         In fact, representing a screen reader manufacturer myself, I
>         completely agree with Adam, and would further argue this isn't
>         even an issue exclusive to screen reader users, but to ALL
>         users who might try to navigate your list with the keyboard.
>
>         Perhaps the question to ask here, is not whether this
>         "solution" meets WCAG, but going one step further back, and
>         asking why this interface is needed instead of the standard
>         way of navigating lists which works across the board, needs no
>         special instruction, and wouldn't require you to question
>         whether it meets WCAG or not?
>
>         Rant over :)
>
>         On Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 10:59 AM greg jellin
>         <greg@gregjellin.com> wrote:
>
>             Great point Adam. Totally agree. Unfortunately, my role on
>             this task is assessing wcag compliance, however I will
>             advocate for that solution.
>
>             On Mon, Dec 12, 2022, 3:47 PM Adam Cooper
>             <cooperad@bigpond.com> wrote:
>
>                 Greg,
>
>                 Who cares whether it passes xyz? As a screen reader
>                 user, tabbing through items in either a menu or list
>                 is the wrong pattern especially if it's something I am
>                 doing over and over again like at work.
>
>                 If I can highlight an option using arrow keys, and
>                 then tab out of the listbox and onto the next field or
>                 button, then I have saved a heap of repetitive strain
>                 injury ...
>
>                 There is an unfortunate trend in web design and
>                 development that believes tabbing is the appropriate
>                 means of navigating long lists. For example, a
>                 WordPress global navigation menu. What happens if I
>                 need to get to the very last item in the very last
>                 menu over and over? That's right - tab, tab, tab, tab,
>                 tab tab ... arrow key navigation is much more
>                 efficient and saves my brain and my joints.
>
>                 The model for menus is common operating systems -
>                 there's no reason why the web has to be different
>                 (except for poor design, development, and rubbish
>                 accessibility support!).
>
>
>
>
>                 -----Original Message-----
>                 From: Greg Jellin <greg@gregjellin.com>
>                 Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2022 9:52 AM
>                 To: Wai-Ig <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
>                 Subject: Is the escape key sufficient as a method for
>                 WCAG 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap
>
>                 I'm dealing with a combobox that presents a list of
>                 options
>                 (role=listbox) after the user types a few characters.
>
>                 Once the listbox is present, if the user tabs, focus
>                 moves through each item. Once reaching the end of the
>                 visible list, focus cycles through the list from the
>                 beginning. The user can not escape the listbox via tab
>                 or arrows.
>
>                 The user can escape the component via the escape key
>                 (collapses the listbox and the user can continue
>                 tabbing through the page) or by deleting the text
>                 entered into the input.
>
>                 Is this sufficient to pass 2.1.2 No keyboard trap? I
>                 would argue that the escape key meets the "other
>                 standard exit method" part of the SC.
>
>                 Thanks in advance!
>
>                 Greg
>
>
>
>         -- 
>
>         Quentin Christensen
>         Training and Support Manager
>
>         Web: www.nvaccess.org <http://www.nvaccess.org/>
>
>         Training: https://www.nvaccess.org/shop/
>
>         Certification: https://certification.nvaccess.org/
>
>         User group: https://nvda.groups.io/g/nvda
>
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>         Twitter: @NVAccess <https://twitter.com/NVAccess>
>

Received on Tuesday, 13 December 2022 02:49:30 UTC