WAI Checkpoint 10.1 states:
Until user agents allow users to turn off spawned windows, do not cause pop-ups or other windows to appear and do not change the current window without informing the user.
Yes, we all know about this one. Don’t spawn a new window unless you really have to and, if you feel compelled to do so, inform the user. For many developers, this boils down to using the title attribute within the link markup to inform the user that the link will open in a new window. The idea behind this is that screen reader users will be forewarned about the upcoming change of focus by their own software.
More On Popups: continue reading …
There has been a general consensus of opinion, until now, that Priority 3 Checkpoint 10.4 of the WCAG 1.0 Guidelines can be safely disregarded. The checkpoint relates to the use of place holding characters within text input areas.
10.4 Until user agents handle empty controls correctly, include default, place-holding characters in edit boxes and text areas.
Place Holding Text In Form Inputs: continue reading …
Sitemorse has again come under fire regarding its automated testing tool and the publication of ‘ league tables’ based on results obtained with this tool. The main focus of the complaints was that attempting to rank accessibility using an automated tool alone was, at best, highly confusing and, at worst, potentially harmful. Only about 40% of the WCAG 1.0 Guidelines can be tested using automated tools such as Sitemorse’s. Therefore attributing a percentage accessibility score to a site using a tool that can only check for less than half of the relevant checkpoints is a recipe for confusion and misunderstanding.
A Change of Heart by Sitemorse?: continue reading …
The draft of the Publicly Available Specification document, PAS 78, is about to enter the third and final phase of its development. The initial draft, having been collated by the Steering Panel, has now been circulated to all members of the Review Panel for comment. Review Panel comments are to be returned to the British Standards Institute by July 22nd for consideration by the Steering Panel.
PAS 78: Update: continue reading …
