Accessible Javascript

Web developer James Edwards would probably almost go so far as to say that it’s offensive to him when people complain that web accessibility is a cumbersome process. To help fight this idea, he has created an article bringing up something that many of us may not think of; mouse-less navigation. “Most of us use a mouse for the majority of our graphic interface navigation, but some people can’t, and must therefore navigate using the keyboard instead. For a person who has a hand tremor, for example, the precision control required to use a mouse effectively may simply be impossible. For users of assistive technologies such as screen readers, the keyboard is the primary method of interaction. After all, it’s rather difficult to use a mouse when you can’t see the pointer!

Providing for keyboard access also creates better usability, because many people who can use a mouse nonetheless prefer to use a keyboard for certain tasks or at certain times. These tend to be power users — people who are generally more familiar with how their computers work, and expect to be able to interact with functionality using either the mouse or the keyboard as their needs dictate.

If you’re not in the habit of navigating sites with the keyboard, try it now! Spend some time on your own site, and on other sites you visit regularly, to get a feel for what it’s like to surf without a mouse. Discover where difficulties arise, and think about how those issues could be avoided.”

Read the full article from Sitepoint and make your web site more accessible today!