§1194.22(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.

Checkpoint
Does the site or a page within it contain navigation?

Explanation
Sites that consist of two or more pages generally have links to allow users to move around to the various pages.

Checkpoint
Does the page force users of assistive technology to go through the navigation links before reaching the content or data?

Explanation
Sighted people can aim their view at any point on a web site they wish, returning to the site navigation mechanism when it's convenient for them. However, those using assistive technology (e.g. screen reader) must listen through the same navigation options with each new page they enter. This definition includes a single page that is refreshed to show different or altered dynamic content, but contains the same navigation mechanism.

Guidelines
Assistive technology (e.g. screen reader) is the ideal tool to test this checkpoint.

Place a 1 pixel x 1 pixel transparent .gif at the beginning of the navigation mechanism, along with the alt attribute value: "Skip navigation" (or similar verbiage). Use the graphic as an anchor link that takes the assistive technology's point of reference directly to the page's specific content.

<a href="#content"><img src="transparent.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="Skip Navigation"></a>

<!-- beginning of navigation -->
<a href="about.html">About Us</a>
<a href="history.html">History</a>
<a href="mission.html">Mission Statement</a>
<a href="contact.html">Contact Us</a>
<!-- end of navigation -->

<!-- beginning of content -->
<a name="content"></a>

This technique will give users of assistive technology the opportunity to go directly to the content by skipping over the navigation links.

NOTE: Some browsers cannot accommodate empty anchor tags. When using the tag as an anchor target, there must be some sort of alphanumeric character(s) between the <a name="content"> and </a> tags (preferably the header name).

Explanation
Any group of functional mechanisms that appears regularly throughout a web site or web application (e.g. record filters) can be circumvented for the benefit of those who use assistive technology. This definition includes a single page that is refreshed to show different or altered dynamic content, but contains the same filter mechanisms.

Guidelines
Although skipping over repetitively used functional mechanisms (other than navigation) is not necessarily required by Section 508, it will serve as a nice convenience for those who use assistive technology, especially on pages where such functional mechanisms are extensive and complex.

Place a 1 pixel x 1 pixel transparent .gif at the beginning of the filter group, along with the alt attribute value: "Skip filters" (or similar verbiage). Use the graphic as an anchor link that takes the screen reading software directly to the page's specific content.

<a href="#content"><img src="transparent.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="Skip Navigation"></a>

<!-- beginning of filter mechanism -->
<select name= ... >
<!-- end of filter mechanism -->

<!-- beginning of content -->
<a name="content"></a>

This technique will give users of assistive technology the opportunity to go directly to the content by skipping over the filter mechanism.