Forms

Forms at W&L

Washington and Lee University has developed a form-building application to help users create accessible forms for use on the web. It incorporates all the best practices outlined here in an easy to use interface that works seamlessly with the content management system.

Accessibility Barriers

• Completing Web forms may be difficult or impossible for users with certain types of impairments, users of some adaptive technologies and users of some Web-enabled devices.
• Users with low vision or mobility impairments may have difficulty accessing small form controls.
• Font styles, sizes, attributes, colors or other non-textual elements used as the only means of indicating required fields and other form parameters will be inaccessible to screen reader users, users who are color-blind, and users whose equipment does not support the displaying of color.
• The purpose or function of form elements may be unclear or unknown when group membership (e.g., Shipping verses Billing) is not structurally identified.
• Identification of form elements may be difficult or impossible for users with learning disabilities when the position of the label relative to the element changes.

Best Practices

• Provide alternatives to completing on-line forms (e.g., E-mail, telephone, fax, postal mail, in-person) and clearly indicate that these alternatives are supported.
• Place legends for identifiers within the form (e.g., * = Required field) prior to the form.
• Do not use font styles, sizes, colors or other non-textual elements as the only means of indicating required fields.
• Use the <label></label> tag to structurally associate labels with form fields and controls.
• Use the <fieldset></fieldset> tags to structurally group and identify form elements.