Check in the developer tools panel whether there is a script triggered by an event for the link
JAWS sends a click event for links regardless of whether ENTER or SPACEBAR is used so pressing SPACEBAR on a link will activate it
Also, check that you are running your version of JAWS using the default user directory (JAWS + SPACEBAR, Z to toggle on or off or launch using the command prompt jawsXXXX /default).
From: Dallas Matamoros <dallasmatamoros@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2026 4:13 AM
To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: Skip link activates with Space but not Enter (JAWS + Chrome)
Hello,
I encountered a skip-to-main-content link that JAWS announces as
“visited same page link”, but it does not activate with Enter.
It does work with the Space bar.
The markup is a standard in-page link:
<a href="#main-content">Skip to main content</a>
The site is built in Drupal, so I suspect a scripted event is
cancelling the default behavior.
Would this be considered a failure of SC 2.1.1, even though the link is focusable? I also experience similar problems with skip to main content links on other web pages as well. Can you explain what is most likely causing many web developers to make skip to main content links not work correctly?
Tested with:
JAWS 2026
Chrome
Windows 11
Thank you,
Dallas Matamoros, CPACC
(985) 400-0118
dallasmatamoros@gmail.com <mailto:dallasmatamoros@gmail.com>
<https://certification.nvaccess.org/>
<https://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/Certification>
<https://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/Certification>
