Are "QuickLinks" dropdown lists accessible?
A growing number of websites in higher education and elsewhere use a "QuickLinks" form field, a single drop down list of links that takes the user immediately to a selected link without requiring that the user press a submit button. These form fields are not accessible. A standard HTML list box allows users to navigate up and down through the list using the arrow keys on the keyboard. People who can't use a mouse due to a visual impairment or physical disability depend on this keyboard functionality. "QuickLinks" fields automatically select the first field that a user arrows to, and activate that link. While a user can continue to navigate down the list using Alt+down arrow, very few users are aware of this functionality since it is not standard navigation for an HTML form, and therefore are unable to access any further content.
The solution is to always provide a Submit button, and to avoid using onSelect or onChange events in dropdown lists. The resultant "QuickLinks" form will require one extra click or keystroke for users, but that is a small price to pay for assuring that all users have access.