Skip links - must they navigate to a focusable element?

Catherine Ailanjian <[email protected]> Fri, 19 Jun 2020 22:43:15 +0000
Newsgroups gmane.org.w3c.accessibility.general
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Regarding "skip to main content" links, must they navigate to the first  el=
ement in the main landmark?  Or to the first focusable element in the main =
landmark?

For example, on Treasury.gov, the first element in the main landmark is the=
 text string "Featured" and the first focusable element is the "How the Tre=
asury Department is Taking Action - The CARES Act" link.  When I activate t=
he "Skip Navigation" link, it navigates to the "Featured" text string.

If, as Deque Univ. states, the skip-link target should exist and be focusab=
le (best practice), I can understand how that helps keyboard-only users who=
 are able to see that there is content above the first focusable element in=
 the main landmark.  But, how do people using screen readers and who can't =
see that content typically access it?  Especially if the first element in t=
he main landmark is a non-focusable heading?

Cat Ailanjian
Web QA Engineer
Marketing Operations
Pro Unlimited Contingent Worker, on behalf of Western Digital
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Office: 949-672-9412


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<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Regarding &#8220;skip to main content&#8221; links, =
must they navigate to the first&nbsp; element in the main landmark?&nbsp; O=
r to the first focusable element in the main landmark?&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">For example, on Treasury.gov, the first element in t=
he main landmark is the text string &#8220;Featured&#8221; and the first fo=
cusable element is the &#8220;How the Treasury Department is Taking Action =
- The CARES Act&#8221; link.&nbsp; When I activate the &#8220;Skip Navigati=
on&#8221;
 link, it navigates to the &#8220;Featured&#8221; text string.<o:p></o:p></=
p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">If, as Deque Univ. states, the skip-link target shou=
ld exist and be focusable (best practice), I can understand how that helps =
keyboard-only users who are able to see that there is content above the fir=
st focusable element in the main landmark.&nbsp;
 But, how do people using screen readers and who can&#8217;t see that conte=
nt typically access it?&nbsp; Especially if the first element in the main l=
andmark is a non-focusable heading?&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Cat Ailanjian<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Web QA Engineer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Marketing Operations<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Pro Unlimited Contingent Worker, on behalf of Wester=
n Digital<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">cathe=
[email protected]</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Office: 949-672-9412<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>
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