Keyboard Navigation Guide

This guide explains how to navigate the Society for Adaptive Organisations website using only your keyboard. These navigation patterns are essential for users who cannot use a mouse, including those who rely on assistive technologies.

Quick Reference

Basic Navigation

Skip Navigation

• First Tab: Takes you to the “Skip to main content” link
• Press Enter: Jumps directly to the main content area
• Purpose: Avoids having to tab through the entire navigation menu

Page Structure

1. Skip Link: Direct access to main content
2. Main Navigation: Site menu and language selector
3. Main Content: Page-specific content
4. Footer: Additional links and information

Navigation Menu

Desktop Navigation

• Tab: Move through menu items left to right
• Enter/Space: Open dropdown menus
• Arrow Down: Open dropdown and focus first item
• Arrow Up: Open dropdown and focus last item
• Escape: Close dropdown and return focus to trigger

Mobile Navigation (screens under 1024px)

• Tab: Focus the mobile menu button (hamburger icon)
• Enter/Space: Open mobile menu
• Tab: Navigate through visible menu items
• Escape: Close mobile menu
• Automatic: Menu items are always visible, no need to open dropdowns

Dropdown Menus

Once a dropdown is open:

• Arrow Down: Move to next menu item
• Arrow Up: Move to previous menu item
• Home: Jump to first menu item
• End: Jump to last menu item
• Tab: Move to next element (closes dropdown on desktop)
• Enter: Follow the selected link
• Escape: Close dropdown and return to trigger

Language Selector

• Tab: Focus the language selector
• Enter/Arrow Down: Open language menu
• Arrow Keys: Choose language
• Enter: Switch to selected language
• Escape: Close language menu

Form Navigation

Contact Form

• Tab: Move through form fields in order:
  1. Name field
  2. Email field
  3. Subject field
  4. Message field
  5. Submit button
• Shift + Tab: Move backward through fields
• Enter: Submit form (when on submit button)

Form Validation

When validation errors occur:

• Error Summary: Automatically announced to screen readers
• Tab to Error Links: Click links in error summary to jump to problem fields
• Field Errors: Individual field errors announced when field receives focus
• Error Correction: Errors clear automatically when valid input is provided

Content Pages

Educator Profiles

• Tab: Navigate through:
  1. Educator information section
  2. Certification badges (where applicable)
  3. Contact information
  4. Company website links
  5. Social media links (where available)

Certification Pages

• Tab: Navigate through:
  1. Certification description
  2. Related links
  3. Badge information
  4. Associated educators (where listed)

Search and Filtering

Educator Search

• Tab: Move to search controls
• Type: Filter results automatically (live regions announce changes)
• Tab: Navigate through filter options
• Enter/Space: Select filter options
• Tab: Navigate through filtered results

Accessibility Features

Screen Reader Announcements

The website includes live regions that announce:

• Page navigation changes
• Form submission status
• Menu state changes (open/closed)
• Loading states
• Error messages
• Search result updates

Focus Indicators

• Visible Focus: All interactive elements show a clear focus indicator
• High Contrast: Focus indicators are clearly visible
• Consistent: Same focus style used throughout the site

Touch Targets

• Minimum Size: All interactive elements are at least 44px × 44px
• Spacing: Adequate spacing between touch targets
• Mobile Optimized: Touch targets enlarged on mobile devices

Troubleshooting

If Navigation Isn’t Working

1. Check Browser: Ensure your browser supports keyboard navigation
2. Check Settings: Verify keyboard navigation is enabled in your browser
3. Try Different Keys: Some browsers use different key combinations
4. Clear Cache: Clear browser cache and reload the page

If You Get Stuck

1. Use Escape: Press Escape to close any open menus
2. Refresh Page: Reload the page to reset navigation state
3. Use Skip Links: Use the skip link to jump to main content
4. Contact Support: Use our accessibility feedback form

Browser-Specific Notes

Chrome/Edge

• Tab Navigation: Standard Tab/Shift+Tab navigation
• Enter/Space: Both work for activation

Firefox

• Tab Navigation: Standard Tab/Shift+Tab navigation
• Full Keyboard Access: Enable “Use the cursor keys to navigate within pages” for additional keyboard support

Safari

• Enable Tab Navigation: Go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced > “Press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage”
• System Settings: Ensure “Full Keyboard Access” is enabled in System Preferences

Assistive Technology Support

Screen Readers

• NVDA: Full support with browse and focus modes
• JAWS: Compatible with virtual cursor navigation
• VoiceOver: Native macOS screen reader support
• ORCA: Linux screen reader compatibility

Voice Control

• Voice Access: Works with browser voice control features
• Dragon: Compatible with voice navigation commands

Switch Navigation

• Switch Access: Compatible with switch navigation devices
• Scanning: Supports sequential and group scanning modes

Advanced Navigation Tips

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Ctrl/Cmd + F: Find text on page
• Ctrl/Cmd + L: Focus address bar
• Ctrl/Cmd + W: Close current tab
• Ctrl/Cmd + T: Open new tab

Browser Navigation

• Alt + Left Arrow: Go back
• Alt + Right Arrow: Go forward
• Ctrl/Cmd + R: Reload page
• F5: Refresh page

Page Navigation

• Page Up/Page Down: Scroll by viewport
• Home/End: Go to top/bottom of page
• Arrow Keys: Scroll in small increments (in some browsers)

Getting Help

If you encounter any keyboard navigation issues or have suggestions for improvement:

Email: accessibility@adaptive-organisations.org
Response Time: We aim to respond within 2 business days

When reporting issues, please include:

• Your operating system and version
• Your browser and version
• The specific page where you encountered the issue
• What you were trying to do
• What happened instead

We are committed to ensuring our website is fully accessible via keyboard navigation and welcome your feedback to help us improve.