Live search and keyboard navigation and screen readers

  • Hey

    TLDR; Can Ajax Search be configured to be fully accessible with keyboard navigation and screen readers?

    It’s works great for the typical user. You can try for yourself by searching on https://oldrup.net/ajax-search-lite/ for “gutenberg” – should give you a list of all posts including the term.

    However, the Ajax Search is in its current state not very accessible to people with screen readers or people who use keyboard navigation.

    For instance – when using the tab-key to traverse through the results, the tabbing order forces you through the rest of the page, including the footer, before reaching the search results.

    Have you got any idea if Ajax Search can be configured to work properly with keyboard navigation and screen readers, so we can provide a WCAG-compliant solution, including all visitors regardless of disabilities?

    Kind regards
    Bjarne Oldrup

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • Plugin Author wpdreams

    (@wpdreams)

    Hi Bjarne,

    A keyboard up/down naviation will be added for the results within the upcoming release. However WCAG compliance I can not promise in the nearest future.

    Tabindexing is also very problematic, as we have tried adding tabindexes to some form elements in previous versions, but it did not work out as planned, as there is no “good” tabindex number to give – it depends on the existing elements on the page.

    Maybe the keyboard navigation will help a bit, but for complete WCAG compliance we need to take much deeper steps for sure.

    Best,
    Ernest M.

    Thread Starter Bjarne Oldrup

    (@oldrup)

    Thank you for your feedback. It’s appreciated. While the tabbing might be off, the up-down keyboard navigation is probably sufficient. I’ll do my best and test with in different scenarios and with different screen readers, and keep you posted.

    Again, thank you. Ajax Search Lite is an impressive plugin. Sharing it with the community is huge.

    Bjarne

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
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