Making Web Forms Accessible

You’re most likely here because you need to make sure the forms you use in your web content are accessible to people with disabilities.

You might have a specific problem, like:

how to avoid keyboard traps in forms
how to use error messages in an accessible way
how to use labels for accessibility
how to use fieldsets for accessibility
how to make form submit buttons accessible
how to make form fields mandatory in an accessible way

Perhaps you need a comprehensive list of likely issues with the accessibility of forms in web content – and how to address them. Or maybe you just want to ask a direct question and get a clear, expert response.

You’re in the right place.

OzWiki will tell you what you need to know to make forms on the web accessible. The Forms section details 59 accessibility problems and how to address them, demonstrating compliance with 50 WCAG Level A success criteria, 8 WCAG Level AA success criteria and one WCAG Level AAA success criterion.

As a subscriber, you’ll also be able to request further or more detailed information relating to your specific situation.

See an example

Mandatory fields have not been marked and/or defined appropriately

Category	Forms
Topic	Insufficient
WCAG SC 3.3.2: Labels or Instructions	Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input. http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/minimize-error-cues.html See more errors for this SC
Level	A
Technique(s)	G14: Ensuring that information conveyed by color differences is also available in text G84: Providing a text description when the user provides information that is not in the list of allowed values
Impact	Low

Error

Mandatory fields have been marked using an asterisk only. Not all assistive technologies recognise grammatical marks such as asterisks.

Solution

Ensure that the word "mandatory" or "required" is used instead of an ASCII character such as an asterisk. Alternatively the ASCII character asterisk can be replaced with an image of an asterisk with an appropriate ALT attribute.

OzWiki is an accessible resource that provides best known methods to achieve A & AA level design and interaction for web content in areas such as Audio, Video, Link, Captcha, Maps, Navigation and more. These outlined accessibility errors, examples and solutions help you become 508 compliant by demonstrating associated WCAG 2.0 success criteria and techniques.

Gain access to more detailed information on all OzWiki categories for only $39/month by purchasing a subscription today! You can cancel your subscription at any time.