Accessibility: Keyboard Input and Forms from Pluralsight

To meet the WCAG guidelines, your website has to work for keyboard-only users. We'll run through all the code changes necessary for this and also for making forms that are accessible and easy to use, with clear labels and validation errors.

Keyboard traps can cause a variety of problems and frustrations for keyboard-only users.

In this course, Accessibility: Keyboard Input and Forms, you'll gain the ability to create solutions for some of the challenges that keyboard-only users can face with websites.

First, you'll learn how to ensure that a site is accessible to them, why keyboard focus indicators are essential, how to spot and prevent keyboard traps, and how to make a custom control keyboard-friendly.

Next, you'll discover various methods for labelling and describing input controls, as well as making CAPTCHAs more accessible.

Finally, you'll explore validation messages and error handling, how to link error messages to the form controls, and how to inform a screen reader user that there was an issue with the input.

When you're finished with this course, you’ll have a clear understanding of the techniques necessary to make a website accessible to keyboard-only users, and how to make forms easy to use for a wider audience.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Developing a Keyboard-friendly Website

Preventing Issues with Keyboard Control

Developing Clear, Well-labeled Forms

Presenting Validation Errors to the User

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores keyboard accessibility in web design

Meets WCAG accessibility standards

Taught by Fiona Holder

Focuses on accessibility for keyboard-only users

Examines common accessibility issues and provides solutions

Suitable for individuals seeking to enhance website accessibility

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Accessibility: Keyboard Input and Forms with these activities:

Complete online keyboarding practice exercises

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Sharpen your keyboarding skills to improve your efficiency in completing course assignments.

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Find a reputable online keyboarding practice website or app.
Complete at least 10 minutes of practice exercises daily.

Read 'Web Accessibility: A Beginner's Guide'

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Improve your understanding of web accessibility guidelines and best practices by reading this book.

View Constructing Accessible Web Sites on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow the book.
Carve out 2 hours each week to read.
Take notes as you read.

Collaborate on Accessibility Testing

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Enhance understanding of accessibility evaluation methods.

Browse courses on Accessibility Testing

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Form a study group with peers.
Select a website or web application to evaluate.
Use a variety of accessibility testing tools and techniques.
Share and discuss your findings with the group.

Ten other activities

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Avoid Keyboard Traps

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Develop an understanding of what constitutes a keyboard trap.

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Review common types of keyboard traps.
Identify potential keyboard traps in existing web applications.
Implement techniques to prevent keyboard traps.

Attend webinars on web accessibility

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Engage with professionals in the field of web accessibility by attending relevant webinars.

Browse courses on Web Accessibility

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Search for upcoming webinars on web accessibility.
Register for and attend 2-3 webinars.
Take notes and ask questions during the webinars.

Create a list of keyboard shortcuts for your favorite websites

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Become more efficient in navigating websites with this activity that involves identifying and documenting keyboard shortcuts.

Browse courses on Keyboard Shortcuts

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Choose 5 of your favorite websites.
Explore each website using only your keyboard.
Note down all the keyboard shortcuts you discover.
Compile your findings into a list.

Practice form Validation Using Keyboard

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Reinforce the concept of how to make forms accessible with only keyboard use.

Browse courses on Form Validation

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Identify forms that could be more keyboard accessible.
Implement ARIA attributes to form elements to enhance their accessibility.
Use tabIndex to control the order in which focus is set on form elements.

Follow tutorials on web accessibility best practices

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Expand your knowledge of web accessibility best practices by seeking out and following relevant tutorials.

Browse courses on Web Accessibility

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Search for reputable sources that offer tutorials on web accessibility best practices.
Choose 2-3 tutorials to follow.
Complete the tutorials thoroughly.

Collaborate with a peer on a web accessibility project

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Enhance your understanding and skills by working with a peer on a web accessibility project.

Browse courses on Web Accessibility

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Find a peer who is also enrolled in the course.
Choose a project to work on together.
Divide the work into smaller tasks.
Collaborate regularly to complete the project.

Design a Keyboard-Accessible Ecommerce Website

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Apply the principles of keyboard accessibility to a practical context.

Browse courses on Web Accessibility

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Choose an e-commerce platform that supports keyboard accessibility features.
Design a layout that is easy to navigate using only a keyboard.
Use accessible design elements, such as high-contrast colors and large fonts.
Create a prototype of your design and test it with users who rely on keyboard navigation.

Contribute to an Open-Source Accessibility Project

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Gain hands-on experience with accessibility implementation and testing.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify an open-source project related to web accessibility.
Review the project's documentation and codebase.
Make a contribution to the project, such as fixing a bug or adding a new feature.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Design and develop a web page that meets WCAG guidelines

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Apply your knowledge by designing and developing a web page that adheres to WCAG guidelines.

Browse courses on Web Design

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Plan the layout and content of your web page.
Use accessible design principles throughout your development process.
Test your web page for accessibility using tools and techniques.
Refine your design and development based on test results.

Contribute to open-source projects related to web accessibility

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Deepen your understanding and make valuable contributions by participating in open-source projects focused on web accessibility.

Browse courses on Web Accessibility

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Identify open-source projects related to web accessibility.
Review the project documentation.
Identify areas where you can contribute.
Submit your contributions to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Accessibility: Keyboard Input and Forms will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Front-End Developer

To succeed as a Front End Developer, you need a solid grasp of making websites accessible to all users. In particular, you must accommodate keyboard-only users, ensure clear labels and validation errors, and implement error handling. This course teaches the theory and tools you need to make a website both fully functional and user-friendly. It is a foundational course any front-end developer should prioritize.

See salaries and explore the career path for Front-End Developer

Web Developer

One of the many areas of web development is front end development, which is the process of making the part of a website that the user sees and interacts with. Therefore, the need to build accessible and user-friendly front-end applications places a heavy emphasis on keyboard accessibility and the creation of clear, well-labeled forms. This course provides instruction on the skills and techniques needed for this area.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers need to be able to design and develop systems that can be used by all users. This includes making web-based applications and forms accessible to keyboard users and designing clear and well-labeled forms that can be easily used by all. This course helps build a foundation for this essential software engineering skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Web Designer

In creating visually appealing websites, web designers also need to consider accessibility and user experience. This course teaches techniques for making websites accessible to users of all abilities. By learning how to make forms accessible and easy to use, you can reach a wider audience with your designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

User Experience Designer

A critical aspect of UX design is accessibility, which ensures that websites and applications are usable and accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This course helps build a foundation in this area, teaching the techniques and principles of making digital experiences accessible. This can help UX designers create more inclusive and user-friendly experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Accessibility Specialist

Accessibility Specialists are responsible for ensuring that digital products are accessible to users of all abilities. This includes making sure that websites and forms are accessible to keyboard users and that error messages are clear and helpful to users with screen readers. This course can help build the skills needed for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accessibility Specialist

Quality Assurance Engineer

One of the main responsibilities of a QA Engineer is to ensure that software applications are free of defects and meet user requirements. This includes testing for accessibility issues, such as making sure that websites and forms are accessible to keyboard users and that error messages are clear and helpful. This course provides skills that can be used on the job as a QA Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Engineer

Project Manager

Project managers need to be aware of the importance of accessibility and how it can impact the success of a project. This course can help project managers understand the principles of accessibility and how to incorporate accessibility into their projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Information Architect

Information Architects organize and structure websites and applications to make them easy to use and find information. This includes making sure that websites are accessible to keyboard users and that forms are clear and well-labeled. This course will help build a foundation for this essential skill for Information Architects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Technical Writer

Technical writers create documentation for software and other technical products. This documentation needs to be clear and easy to understand for all users, including those with disabilities. By completing this course, technical writers can learn how to make their documentation more accessible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create and develop educational materials, such as online courses and training manuals. These materials need to be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This course will help build a foundation for making educational materials accessible.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Assistive Technology Specialist

Assistive Technology Specialists help people with disabilities use computers and other technology. They may work with clients to choose the right assistive technology devices and provide training on how to use them. This course may be useful as it provides a better understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities when using computers and other technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Assistive Technology Specialist

Disability Advocate

Disability Advocates work to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. They may work on issues such as accessibility, employment, and education. This course may be useful as it provides a basic understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Disability Advocate

Social Worker

Social Workers help people overcome challenges and achieve their goals. They may work with people with disabilities to help them access resources and services. This course may be useful as it provides a basic understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Educator

Educators work with students of all ages to help them learn and grow. They may work with students with disabilities to help them access the curriculum and participate in classroom activities. This course may be useful as it provides a basic understanding of the challenges faced by students with disabilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educator