While it is the dashboard author's responsibility to integrate accessibility practices into their design, listed below are some built-in accessibility features that users can expect in a dashboard.
Keyboard navigation
The standard keys used for navigation are Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Escape (Esc), and the arrow keys. They are used as follows in a dashboard.
- Tab moves focus forward between panels, elements, and interactive features such as buttons.
- Shift+Tab moves focus in the opposite direction.
- Enter activates a link or button and selects.
- Arrow keys move between data points, categories, or values within an element or selector.
Tab order
Along with keyboard navigation, it is crucial to understand the tab order. Tab order refers to the sequence in which focus moves across interactive elements on a dashboard when navigating with the Tab key, supporting two levels of navigation in dashboards: top-level navigation between panels and elements and second-level navigation within these areas.
- Top-level navigation involves moving between different panels or visual elements of the dashboard. When the dashboard is first opened, pressing the Tab key moves focus sequentially, usually from top to bottom and left to right, across the header, sidebar, elements and reset button (if present). If a splash screen is configured, the focus is on the first interactive item (for example, a link or dismiss button) in the splash screen. After dismissing the splash screen, the Tab key continues to navigate through the header, sidebar, and other dashboard areas.
- Second-level navigation refers to moving within a specific panel or element. Once an area is selected using the Enter key, the user can interact with it using the Tab, arrow, and Enter keys to explore data or features within that section. For example, a sidebar may allow filtering options, and the Tab key can be used to select a filter, navigate through categories, and apply or reset selections.
Focus state
When navigating a dashboard using a keyboard, the keyboard focus state indicates the current area on the page. Typically, the focus is shown as a border that highlights the area. This allows the user to see which area they can interact with using the keyboard.
Screen reader compatibility
In general, ArcGIS Dashboards are designed to be compatible with screen readers. For example, visible text is typically read aloud, and buttons are named and identified. The information read by screen readers may vary depending on the operating system and browser being used. ArcGIS Dashboards is tested with VoiceOver on Safari (macOS) and NVDA on Firefox (Windows). Mobile devices also support screen readers, including VoiceOver on iOS devices.