Component Library

Sensory Characteristics

Issue Description

Elements are described based on sensory characteristics such as their location or color as opposed to their label text.

Scenarios:

  • Instructions direct user to click a button at the left of a page, but fail to indicate the element's labeled name.
  • Instructions direct a user to click a button based on it's color.

Recommendation

In addtion to location, color, shape or position add the element's label name to the instructions.

Example:

"Use the search box on the right" is not perceivable. Replace with, Use the search box, labelled "Search" on the right.

Search by using the green rectangular box labelled at the top right of the page is not perceivable. Replace with, Use the search box, labelled ‘Search’ outlined in green, at the top right of the page.

https://section508.gov/create/documents/aed-cop-docx11