Re: [orca-list] Invisible webpage elements meant for AT users not showing

[Lukas Loehrer <listaddr1 gmx net>]

Hi Hermann,

hermann writes ("Re: [orca-list] Invisible webpage elements meant for AT users not showing"):
> with FF2 and Firevox I can find that link "Zum Inhalt".

That is probably because Firevox operates directly on the  DOM, not on the accessible
tree.

> Also in every Windows browser with any screen reader or web helper like
> Webformator.

I cannot reproduce this with jfw 8 or nvda. The link in question is
not present in either FF 1.5 or 2.0. The only way I can make it appear
is by disabling CSS in the View->PageStyle  menu.

> So why hiding it at all?

If I understand you correctly, you are asking why
Firefox 3.0 does not include elements with display=none in the
accessible tree. Not being a Firefox developer, I would guess that the
reason behind this is to make the things the screen reader presents to
the blind user as faithful as possible to what is actually on the
screen. Also this CSS property is also often used in situation in
which it makes sens to actually hide or show parts of the page
dynamically. 

This feature is really a double edged sword. It is the expected
behaviour in many situations but may hide important hints under some circumstances.

Best regards, Lukas