Skip repetitive links |
Section 508 1194.22(o); WAI / WCAG 1.0 checkpoint 13.6
Issue Description If the page contains a set of navigational links placed at standard positions (often across the top, bottom, or side of a page), then a textual link should be present to allow users of non-graphical browsers to skip those links and move to the page content.
How to check If the page has a standard set of navigational links placed at a standard location, create a link that lets users skip those links. The easiest method is to use a normal text link such as "skip navigationals" that points to a named anchor on the same page.

A more effective method is to use a transparent GIF with an appropriate ALT attribute as the link. For example:

       <A href="#content">
         <IMG alt="skip to page content" src="spacer.gif" width="1"
    height="1">
       </A>

Users with graphical browsers won't see the link, but it would be seen and used by users with non-graphical browsers.

Issue Explanation Web designers often place a set of navigational links at a standard location such as across the top, bottom, or side of a page. If non-disabled visitors return to a web page or site and know that they want to view the content of that particular page instead of selecting a navigation link, they may simply look past the links and begin reading the desired text. For those who use screen readers or other types of assistive technologies, however, it can be a tedious and time-consuming chore to wait for the assistive technology to work through and announce each of the links before getting to the page content.

To address this problem, include a mechanism allowing users to skip repetitive navigational links.