Accessible Data Tables
Published: Jun 21, 2007Roger Hudson wrote a great article on the accessibility of tables. He and many volunteers tested table structures with screen readers and found that complex table structures are still hard to read with all screen readers but he found a preferred technique.
Hundson says: “First, I would like to once again stress the importance of making data tables as simple as possible. Data tables with more than one level of headers are harder to code and much harder for people who rely on assistive technologies to use. At this stage, it appears that id and headers are the most effective way to make complex data tables accessible. Although id and headers are slightly more difficult to code than scope, the apparent poor screen reader support for scope means that this is probably not an effective accessibility option.”
“Finally, a request: if you have the time, please check out the Data Table Accessibility Test page and if possible test it with different technologies. I would be very grateful for any feedback on the quality of the code used for the tables on the page and how well screen readers and Braille devices can access them,” according to Hudson.
