On the CFUN-04 Beat: Sandra Clark

Michael Smith:

Sandra, I noticed that you are talking on "Creating Accessible Web Forms" in the CFUN accessibility track. What is accessibility about and why should forms be accessible?

 

Sandra Clark:

Accessibility is about creating websites that are available to use by all people. While this is commonly thought of as making web sites available to those who are blind, it also includes techniques that encompass those who can't hear, or can't use a mouse. Believe it or not, accessible web sites are also easier to use for those who are using the web via alternative user agents such as mobile phones or cars too!

Forms are the way that our users interact with our web pages. If a user can't access your form to purchase something, chances are you lost the sale. By applying simple techniques from the ground up, we can create web forms that anyone can use regardless.

 

MS:

But aren't most existing forms on the web already accessible?

 

SC:

Actually, forms are probably the MOST INACCESSIBLE elements on the web. That's the major reason I chose this as my topic. As programmers, we interact with our users via the information they enter in our forms. It's important that we know how to make forms available to everyone.

 

MS:

Wow! I wouldn't have thought that a form could be inaccessible. What are common ways that forms are hard for the disabled to read?

 

SC:

Some of the more common ways I have found are: not explicitly associating a caption with the form element and not grouping related form elements together. Error handling on the client side is another major problem. Using tables to layout forms can also cause headaches. There's a host of problems. Of course, if you want to learn about all the problems and how to get around them, then you really should attend my talk, Michael.

 

MS:

I will see if I can fit it into my busy CFUN schedule! But I have one other concern - if I make my forms accessible won't they be ugly for my regular users?

 

SC:

Actually, using CSS to style a form makes them much more visually appealing. We tend to create forms that follow the constraints of a form on a piece of paper. We stuff as much information in as possible. Using CSS to style related groups and elements makes a form much easier to visually navigate for a sighted person as well. Also, using CSS, I can substitute an entirely new style sheet when a user sends my form to a printer, getting rid of the boxes and providing underlines for filling in a form instead. All without changing my form at all. How's that for power!

 

MS:

Just how many users are disabled anyway? Is it a lot?

 

SC:

According to studies, approximately 15-30% of the general population has some sort of functional disability that makes it difficult to use the web. With a population in the United States of about 300 million, that is 45 to 90 million people. Out of those people, only 38% actually use the web, the rest say its just too difficult. That's a lot of people to disenfranchise.

 

MS:

Wow - this sounds like an important topic then. Thanks for speaking with me.

 

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