HTML Forms
Web forms are use to collect information, make requests, register for events and classes, make purchases, and much more. The design, content and layout of an on-line form must be considered in order to ensure access for the widest possible audience — including users of adaptive technologies.
Accessibility Barriers
- Completing Web forms may be difficult or impossible for users with certain types of impairments, users of some adaptive technologies and users of some Web-enabled devices.
- Users with low vision or mobility impairments may have difficulty accessing small form controls.
- Font styles, sizes, attributes, colors or other non-textual elements used as the only means of indicating required fields and other form parameters will be inaccessible to screen reader users, users who are color-blind, and users whose equipment does not support the displaying of color.
- The purpose or funtion of form elements may be unclear or unknown when group membership (e.g., Shipping verses Billing) is not structurally identified.
- Identification of form elements may be difficult or impossible for users with learning disabilities when the position of the label relative to the element changes.
Best Practices
- Provide alternatives to completing on-line forms (e.g., E-mail, telephone, fax, postal mail, in-person) and clearly indicate that these alternatives are supported.
- Place legends for identifiers within the form (e.g., * = Required field) prior to the form.
- Do not use font styles, sizes, colors or other non-textual elements as the only means of indicating required fields.
- Use the <label> tag to structurally associate labels with form fields.
- Use the <label> tag to structurally associate labels with form controls.
- Use the <fieldset> and <legend> tags to structurally group and identify form elements.
