CSS / Accessibility - where to next?

Poster: marks
Dated: Monday November 8 2004 - 15:54:07 GMT

For my last few sites I've used a lot more CSS and less tables. The benefits arising are

* alternate print layout
* works better on handhelds
* compatible with text readers for users with accessibility issues

I've got the Milonic menus on a number of sites. I'm now working on a new site that want dropdown menus yet at the same time I want to retain my CSS mode. I've seen a few posts on the topic but not many answers.

1. Are Milonic working on more accessible menus?
2. Is there a keyboard alternative to onMouseOver? I tried onFocus but couldn't get it to work.

Poster: Maz
Dated: Monday November 8 2004 - 18:16:34 GMT

Sorry I don't have the answers to your questions.

But what I found is that the main menu is accessible if there are links attached to the menu items, so there is a way of making the main menu links go to a source that includes all the submenu links.

I hope that helps.

maz

Poster: John
Dated: Monday November 8 2004 - 21:15:59 GMT

Full 508 accessibility is definitely on the list for the menu. Unfortunately I can't give you a timetable right now, but Andy considers it very important.

Andy or Kevin will have to take your other question.

Poster: marks
Dated: Tuesday November 9 2004 - 19:45:37 GMT

Ok - thanks for your input

Re: CSS / Accessibility - where to next?

Poster: kevin3442
Dated: Wednesday November 10 2004 - 3:39:35 GMT

Hi Mark,


John's wish is my command

There's a set of events you could use for keys: onKeyPress, onKeyDown, and onKeyUp. As with other events, you write your own event handler code, i.e.:

You can also query the event object for various data, like the state of the Alt key, Shift key, etc.

It seems likely that you could use these events in combination with popup() and maybe some other menu functions to create a menu system that would respond to key presses as well as mouse events. If you aren't familiar with these events, you can find a ton of info and examples using Google. Here's a handy reference for javascript events (of course, there are many others too). I can't recall if there are any cross-browser issues with the key events, so you might want to keep an eye out for that.

Cheers,

Kevin