I've had challenges filling out forms on Safari for quite some time and haven't seen it improve with iOS updates. Specifically, sometimes I'll double tap a text field but it won't go into text entry mode. Sometimes I'll choose an option from a dropdown box using the picker control that appears but will find that my selection wasn't retained once I navigate away from that control. I also have experienced checkboxes that won't check, no matter how I try. In some cases, I believe what happens is the VoiceOver cursor gets out of sync with what's actually visible on the screen, as if perhaps the system focus isn't following the VO cursor as I flick my way through a webpage. I find that if I manually scroll the page using the 3-finger swipe and then drag my finger around until I find the desired control, it often behaves normally, but on some pages it's near impossible to manually find a control and flicking through the form controls is much easier. Anyone else have this issue?
For an example, try filling out the advanced search form at www.flexjobs.com. Also, same for the job search page of Apple.com too
Comments
This is not a safari bug
Hi Joe,
This is not a safari bug, but a VO bug. I know this because it is not only happening in Safari, but other web browser apps as well.
At this moment, I am using Firefox to browse AppleVis, and I am experiencing the same exact problem.
There is also a similar issue with popup buttons. When you tap them, nothing happens. Tapping them again brings you to the top of the page. Tapping them once more will bring it up. This usually happens when VoiceOver is in the editing mode of a text field. But not when the text field is active.
I should recommend, (and I recommend doing it myself also), contact Apple Accessibility at accessibility@apple.com.
Until then, I'm afraid this bug will have to last until iOS 9.3.2 comes out, which is coming out in later May or even laterer than that. For now, we should get as much people as we can to contact Apple Accessibility, that includes myself as well.
I don't think you are the only person experiencing this bug, and sorry for the long post.
Forms in Safari.
Just had a look at the flexjobs advanced search page. Seems impossible to do anything, certainly filling out the criteria appears impossible with VO. Not good at all. Seen this myself occasionally, but probably not to the extent that it is on this page. I wonder if it is primarily how the site is designed, perhaps inaccessibly, but definitely warrants an e-mail to Apple accessibility.
addendum.
The flexjobs site isn't a pleasant experience with Firefox on Windows, either I'm afraid. Can't seem to pick a location, either US or international. The text fields work however.
The facts
There are several automated web accessibility evaluation tools available. I use the most common one, available at wave.webaim.org for my accessibility testing. Unfortunately, it was unable to access the Flexjobs site when I tested it on several occasions.
Here is a very accessible form that was created for testing purposes. See if you can use this in Safari. https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/Surfs-Up/WebTrack.htm