Taming the Wild West of Dynamic Content

Most modern screen readers today handle dynamic content quite well on the web. This used to not be the case but as of early 2015 all shipping screen readers are now much better at handling dynamic content. However, there are some things to consider when designing your sites for accessibility that present dynamic content (especially content that changes without user interaction). Consider the following:

  • ARIA roles and alerts are your friend but be wise in your implementation.
  • Ensure that media players do not auto-play and are fully accessible with the keyboard. This includes audio and video presentations.
  • If your site contains a slideshow, make sure that each photo has alt text and can be navigated via the keyboard.
  • If you have a scrolling news feed or other type of content that scrolls make sure that it has been tested with a screen reader.
  • All widgets and pull down menus should be tested to insure they are fully accessible for all users, especially those that are strictly using a keyboard for navigation.
  • It is strongly advised that all videos have options for closed captioning and transcripts for the hearing-impaired.

Resources

 

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