AirTable Accessibility: Difference between revisions
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== Known Accessibility Issues == | == Known Accessibility Issues == | ||
=== Keyboard Control === | |||
You cannot use a keyboard only to navigate the website. Several of the menus require the use of a mouse to activate options. The keyboard shortcuts page is inaccessible, and the keyboard shortcuts aren't usable if you depend on a screen reader. | |||
=== Screen Reader === | |||
You cannot use AirTable if you are screen reader dependent. If you use a screen reader to augment low vision, you may be able to use some aspects of AirTable. Most of the buttons are not labeled, and there is no consistent use of headings. For example, in the Kanban view of a base, every element, including the tags, were all at heading level 1. The home screen includes two headers labeled "Home." The Project Tracker template has no labeled elements, and no way of knowing when you've reached the bottom of the page as a screen reader gets stuck in an endless loop around the two active elements on the page (these elements only said "open block view" and "expand extension options"). | |||
There is no usable alt text on images. Hidden spacer images are used and are not labeled, so there are many phantom "graphic" or "image" elements that appear on the page. Graphs are also not labeled and have no alternative text. It is unclear as a screen reader user how to get to the data contained within the graphs. | |||
=== Zoom Features === | |||
AirTable becomes unusable at 300% zoom. | |||
=== Contact Support === | |||
AirTable no longer allows for questions to be emailed directly to support. You must go through the Help Menu in the AirTable interface and select "Message Support." Unfortunately, this action is impossible if you are screen reader dependent or only use the keyboard, as menu items cannot be navigated or selected through the keyboard. AirTable uses a chatbot to do a first-run of any questions, but our experiences with asking it questions is that it would give completely irrelevant information. You must use a mouse to select "talk to an agent;" again, making it impossible for a screen reader user to get help. They also direct users to their forums to ask questions, but a quick search (including the links above) show that many questions remain unanswered, or are met with strangely aggressive resistance from other users. | |||
* Back to [[Digital Accessibility Group|main Digital Accessibility Group page]]. | * Back to [[Digital Accessibility Group|main Digital Accessibility Group page]]. | ||
Revision as of 14:12, 28 June 2023
This page gathers the IT Subcommittee's resources and reviews of the accessibility of AirTable. This page will be updated as new information is available or further reviews are conducted.
Accessibility Overview
In general, AirTable is not accessible in the free version we tested. There are several barriers for anyone using Assistive Technologies, especially screen readers. It's a visually-heavy website that can be cognitively complex. We tested the backend of a free version to create a database, as well as some of the outputs of AirTable.
General Information
- AirTable Keyboard Shortcuts
- An interesting post on the community forum about accessibility issues from 2020, featuring Michael Cyr from EDUCAUSE ITAccess group.
- Another forum post from 2021 about accessibility issues in sharing and form formats.
- A forum post that suggestions JotForm can be integrated to deal with some accessibility issues.
- A wiki post outlining several issues that came up in testing AirTable in January 2022.
- Businesshub is a website that uses AirTable, but notes that it's not accessible to screen readers.
- Github post with markup changes to improve accessibility.
Known Accessibility Issues
Keyboard Control
You cannot use a keyboard only to navigate the website. Several of the menus require the use of a mouse to activate options. The keyboard shortcuts page is inaccessible, and the keyboard shortcuts aren't usable if you depend on a screen reader.
Screen Reader
You cannot use AirTable if you are screen reader dependent. If you use a screen reader to augment low vision, you may be able to use some aspects of AirTable. Most of the buttons are not labeled, and there is no consistent use of headings. For example, in the Kanban view of a base, every element, including the tags, were all at heading level 1. The home screen includes two headers labeled "Home." The Project Tracker template has no labeled elements, and no way of knowing when you've reached the bottom of the page as a screen reader gets stuck in an endless loop around the two active elements on the page (these elements only said "open block view" and "expand extension options").
There is no usable alt text on images. Hidden spacer images are used and are not labeled, so there are many phantom "graphic" or "image" elements that appear on the page. Graphs are also not labeled and have no alternative text. It is unclear as a screen reader user how to get to the data contained within the graphs.
Zoom Features
AirTable becomes unusable at 300% zoom.
Contact Support
AirTable no longer allows for questions to be emailed directly to support. You must go through the Help Menu in the AirTable interface and select "Message Support." Unfortunately, this action is impossible if you are screen reader dependent or only use the keyboard, as menu items cannot be navigated or selected through the keyboard. AirTable uses a chatbot to do a first-run of any questions, but our experiences with asking it questions is that it would give completely irrelevant information. You must use a mouse to select "talk to an agent;" again, making it impossible for a screen reader user to get help. They also direct users to their forums to ask questions, but a quick search (including the links above) show that many questions remain unanswered, or are met with strangely aggressive resistance from other users.