I understand focus order and alt text add important elements for accessibility purposes such as tabbing through each item, screen-reading, etc. However, are these still valuable on slides that are animated and cycle through a bunch of different text and images throughout the timeline?
The value in the custom focus order is to override the default focus order if needed. Storyline will list the objects from top to bottom and left to right by default.
So, are you experiencing any difficulty with your current focus order?
I think I have the same question and wonder if you found any resolution? I made an interactive course that moves along a timeline, hiding and revealing objects, and using some animation. The focus order list seems fixed to the starting content versus when elements appear on an active timeline. So, how do you order this content in the focus order and what should alt text say? Will this become confusing to someone using a screen reader?
I understand that you’re asking how a course with objects that are either animated or set to be hidden and revealed works with a screen reader. This is a great question!
Objects that are being hidden and revealed or animated aren’t read by the screen reader automatically, because users have to navigate to content before it is read by a screen reader. For example, an object that is shown for 10 seconds on a slide, wouldn’t be read when it appears on the slide. It would be read if the user navigates to the object during the 10 seconds where it is shown on the slide. With that in mind, using a screen reader on courses that have a lot of moving objects wouldn’t provide the best learner experience. Mainly because it’s likely that they would miss content. To make your course accessible, you’ll want to limit the number of animations or give the learner the ability to turn the animations on and off.
3 Replies
Hi Grace,
The value in the custom focus order is to override the default focus order if needed. Storyline will list the objects from top to bottom and left to right by default.
So, are you experiencing any difficulty with your current focus order?
Hi Grace,
I think I have the same question and wonder if you found any resolution? I made an interactive course that moves along a timeline, hiding and revealing objects, and using some animation. The focus order list seems fixed to the starting content versus when elements appear on an active timeline. So, how do you order this content in the focus order and what should alt text say? Will this become confusing to someone using a screen reader?
Hi Tom,
I understand that you’re asking how a course with objects that are either animated or set to be hidden and revealed works with a screen reader. This is a great question!
Objects that are being hidden and revealed or animated aren’t read by the screen reader automatically, because users have to navigate to content before it is read by a screen reader. For example, an object that is shown for 10 seconds on a slide, wouldn’t be read when it appears on the slide. It would be read if the user navigates to the object during the 10 seconds where it is shown on the slide. With that in mind, using a screen reader on courses that have a lot of moving objects wouldn’t provide the best learner experience. Mainly because it’s likely that they would miss content. To make your course accessible, you’ll want to limit the number of animations or give the learner the ability to turn the animations on and off.
Lastly, we have a great resource that shares how to write alt text - Storyline 360: Adding Alternative Text for Screen Readers.
Thanks for reaching out! I hope others will share their tips and trick on how they created an accessible course too!