République Française (liberté, égalité, fraternité) Inria

Physical disability

The term physical disability covers everything that can result in partial or total impairment of motor function.

Typically, an individual with a physical disability will find it difficult to get around, perform certain motions or to move certain limbs.

Motor function impairment can be partial or total, temporary or incurable, depending on its origin.

Examples include :

  • paralysis,
  • amputation,
  • cerebral palsy,
  • myopathy,
  • musculoskeletal disorders.

Motor function impairment can result in a wide range of issues.

Some people may find it impossible to use a keyboard, while others might be unable to use a mouse or other cursor. Others, meanwhile, may prefer to use voice control.

Keyboard navigation

How to navigate using the keyboard

It is entirely possible to control a computer and navigate around a website using only your keyboard.

Some keys let you shift the focus (the visual indication of the location of the cursor), while others let you activate links and buttons, tick boxes or to open drop-down menus.

Examples include :

  • The Tab (tabulator) key
    Lets you shift focus downwards between interactive elements.
  • Shift + Tab
    Lets you shift focus upwards.
  • The Enter key
    Can be used to follow links.
  • The Space key
    Can be used to activate interactive elements.
  • Arrow keys
    Can be used to move around the page.

What do you think of the contents of this page?

Technical integration not accessible

Poor technical integration will result in it not being possible to use your keyboard to navigate around all of the interactive elements on a page.

Read the rest of the paragraph

A user navigating using their keyboard will be unable to display the rest of this paragraph.

Technical integration accessible

In order for it to be accessible, all of the interactive elements on a page - such as

  • the navigation menu,
  • forms,
  • modal windows,
  • tab systhems
  • and open/close drop-down buttons,

must be accessible using the mouse, keyboard and voice control.

Read the rest of the paragraph

The rest of this paragraph, for example, is totally accessible.