Resolving Table Accessibility Issues

What are table accessibility issues?

Tables should be used to present tabular data, such as schedules, reports, or comparison charts. DubBot reports table accessibility issues when a table is difficult for assistive technologies to understand or navigate.

Common issues include missing header rows, empty header cells, complex table layouts, or tables used only for visual formatting.

When should I use a table?

Use a table only when your content contains data that is best understood in rows and columns.

Examples include:

• Course schedules
• Tuition and fee comparisons
• Event calendars
• Statistical reports

Avoid using tables to position or align content on a page. Modern page layouts should be created using your CMS components and styles instead.

Common table issues

DubBot may report issues such as:

• Missing table headers
• Empty header cells
• Tables without a logical structure
• Complex tables that are difficult to navigate
• Tables used for page layout

Fixing table issues in Cascade CMS

1. Open the affected page in Cascade CMS.
2. Locate the table identified by DubBot.
3. Ensure the first row contains column headings whenever appropriate.
4. Remove unnecessary empty rows or columns.
5. Simplify overly complex tables when possible.
6. Save and publish the page.

Note: In some situations code views and/or table views are not available. If this happens, please submit a ticket and the Web Services team will be able to assist.

Fixing table issues in WordPress

1. Edit the affected page.
2. Select the table block.
3. Enable the header row if appropriate.
4. Remove empty cells or unnecessary formatting.
5. Update the page.

Best Practices

• Use tables only for data.
• Include a header row whenever possible.
• Keep tables as simple as practical.
• Avoid merged cells unless they are necessary to represent the data accurately.
• Consider presenting complex information as lists or separate sections instead of a large table.

Verify the correction

After publishing:

1. Review the table to ensure rows and columns are organized logically.
2. Confirm the header row accurately describes the data below it.
3. Verify the page has been published.
4. Wait for DubBot’s next crawl to confirm the issue has been resolved.

When to contact Web Services

If the table is generated automatically by an application or website component and cannot be edited through your CMS, submit a Web Services support ticket with the affected page and a description of the issue.