[FLEX-19261] Labels aren't read by a screen reader in an accessible fashion

• Type: Improvement
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Minor
• Resolution: Later
• Affects Version/s: Adobe Flex SDK Previous
• Component/s: Accessibility, mx: Label
• Environment: Affected OS(s): Windows; Affected OS(s): Windows XP; Language Found: English
• Assignee: Adobe JIRA
• Reporter: Adobe JIRA
• Created: 15/May/09 10:01
• Updated: 15/Apr/11 15:09
• Resolved: 03/Jun/09 14:53

Description

I'm using build 6897 of the Flex SDK.

Problems:

• Narrator will read each Label line by line only when the app loses and gets focus, or first starts up. JAWS will read nothing.
• JAWS and Microsoft Narrator do not read Labels when they are not the sole siblings of a tab-enabled component in an HBox or VBox. To clarify:

• A Label and a TextArea in an HBox: JAWS and Narrator will read the Label when tabbing to the TextArea
• Two Labels and a TextArea in an HBox: JAWS and Narrator read nothing when tabbing to the TextArea

As a developer, I'm in the habit of using Labels to present visually-able users with information in a variety of ways, including having multiple Labels per container and arranging them in various configurations. Additionally, a visual user is able to get information from Labels throughout his or her use of the application, and not solely when the application first starts or gets focus. There currently appears to be no way for the developer to easily present a visually-disabled user by using Labels.

This issue can be seen with Labels arranged in various ways with different containers. I've attached an MXML file that demonstrates some of the problems I encountered.