10 Common Errors When Implementing Accessibility

By Trenton Moss
2008-01-29


Don't change the tab order (unless you have a very good reason to do so)

The tabindex attribute can be used to change the on-page tabbing order but is rarely necessary. The default tabbing order is usually perfectly logical so doesn't need changing.

Screen reader and keyboard-only users tab through links and form items in the order in which they're placed in the HTML source code. Provided that users tab within each section roughly from top-left to bottom-right (which they will) then the tab order is perfectly adequate.

Tutorial Pages:
» Introduction
» Don't use verbose ALT text
» Don't use random characters to separate links
» Don't insert text into empty form fields for the sake of it
» Don't use access keys
» Don't use the table summary (unless it actually adds value)
» Don't forget about the content
» Don't worry too much about accessibility statements
» Don't agonise over acronyms and abbreviations
» Don't change the tab order (unless you have a very good reason to do so)
» Don't forget to listen with a screen reader

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