When testing websites, applications, or courses for accessibility, it is essential to know if all functionality of the digital resource can be achieved using a keyboard. This ensures that the maximum number of users can access resources, even if mouse usage is not an option due to individual preferences or disabilities.
What is keyboard accessible?
When a website or application is keyboard accessible, it can be fully utilized by people who cannot use devices such as a mouse which require eye-hand coordination or motor skill dexterity. This may include those with low or no vision as well as people who must use keyboard emulators because of motor skill difficulties or temporary injuries. Keyboard emulators include speech input software, sip-and-puff software, on-screen keyboards, scanning software, to name a few.
As stated by W3.org, if all functionality can be achieved using the keyboard, it can be accomplished by:
- keyboard users,
- speech input (which creates keyboard input),
- mouse selection (using on-screen keyboards), and
- a wide variety of assistive technologies which create simulated keystrokes as their output.
No other input form has this flexibility--or is as universally supported and operable by people with differing abilities.
How to ensure keyboard access
The objective of using keyboard access techniques is to permit individuals who rely on a keyboard or keyboard interface to access the functionality of the content. A quick test of keyboard access is trying to move through site content using your computer’s Tab key at various screen magnifications, up to 400%. Likewise, you can reverse, or undo your selections by using Shift-Tab. For more specific techniques on ensuring keyboard control or providing keyboard-triggered event handlers, visit the sites provided.