[Sigia-l] Another html form question...

[Karl Groves]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Chandler [mailto:chrischandler67 at earthlink.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 11:07 AM
> To: Karl Groves; Listera; SIGIA-L
> Subject: Re: [Sigia-l] Another html form question...
> 
> 
> "Karl Groves" wrote:
> 
> > Which, of course fails to operate
> > if a user does not use a mouse to navigate.
> 
> > http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/#gl-device-independence
> 
> 
> Why do you say that? I need a lot more
> education around accessibility, but it
> seems to me that the function doesn't
> rely on the mouse to make the selection,
> only to expand/contract the length of
> the box for those using a mouse. The
> selection items would/could still be
> available via tab.
> 

You're correct. Access to the information would still be provided, despite the device-dependent event handler.
But "accessibility" is about *equivalent* access, IMHO.  And therefore, it would be a good idea to have recommended "onMouseover" to something like "onFocus", so that regardless of whether you've applied the focus with a mouse or by tabbing, the function still works as intended for all people with support for client-side scripting, rather than *just* those who use mice.

-Karl