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Web Accessibility - Priority 3

Web Accessibility: Priority 3

Web Accessibility: Forms

Include Default Text in Form Controls

Some assistive technologies will miss a form control if there is no text in it. It will not inform the user that the control is there or allow the user to input data. Placing default text in the control forces the assistive technology to read the control.

Default text for <TEXTAREA> controls is located between the opening and closing tags.

For example:


            
            <FORM action="http://www.somesite.com/" method="post">

            


               
               <TEXTAREA name=yourname rows="20" cols="80">
                  
                  Please enter your name here.
               
               </TEXTAREA>
                  
                  <INPUT type="image" name="submit" src="button.gif" alt="Submit">
                  
            
            </FORM>

Be sure to include text equivalents for images used as "submit" and "reset" buttons.

Default text for <SELECT> controls (drop-down lists and list boxes) is accomplished by making one of the options active with a SELECTED attribute.

For example:


            
            <SELECT name="department">
               
               <OPTION value="1" selected>Accounting</OPTION>

               <OPTION value="2">Management</OPTION>
            
            </SELECT>

Radio button groups should have an option selected with the CHECKED attribute of the appropriate radio button.

For example:


            
            <INPUT type="radio" name="salary" value="exempt">Exempt

            <INPUT type="radio" name="salary" value="non-exempt" checked>Non-Exempt

To enhance the accessibility of forms, provide alternate methods of contact or submission, e.g., via email, phone, or TTY (teletype for the deaf).

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