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

Why do navigational links present impediments to screen readers and other types of 

assistive technologies? 

This provision provides a method to facilitate the easy tracking of page content that provides 

users of assistive technology the option to skip repetitive navigation links. Web developers 

routinely place a host of routine navigational links at a standard location   often across the top, 

bottom, or side of a page. If a nondisabled user returns to a web page and knows that he or she 

wants to view the contents of that particular page instead of selecting a navigation link to go to 

another page, he or she may simply look past the links and begin reading wherever the desired 

text is located. For those who use screen readers or other types of assistive technologies, 

however, it can be a tedious and time consuming chore to wait for the assistive technology to 

work through and announce each of the standard navigational links before getting to the 

intended location. In order to alleviate this problem, the section 508 rule requires that when 

repetitive navigational links are used, there must be a mechanism for users to skip repetitive 

navigational links. 

Example: USDA Target Center and DOL websites use the Skip Repetitive Navigational Links. 

http://www.usda.gov/oo/target

http://www.dol.gov/odep/welcome.html

(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time 

to indicate more time is required.  

Why do timed responses present problems to web users with disabilities? 

Web pages can be designed with scripts so that the web page disappears or "expires" if a 

response is not received within a specified amount of time. Sometimes, this technique is used 

for security reasons or to reduce the demands on the computer serving the web pages. 

Someone s disability can have a direct impact on the speed with which he or she can read, 

move around, or fill in a web form. For instance, someone with extremely low vision may be a 

slower than average reader. A page may "time out" before he is able to finish reading it. Many 

forms, when they "time out" automatically, also delete whatever data has been entered. The 

result is that someone with a disability who is slow to enter data cannot complete the form. For 

this reason, when a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted via a prompt and given 

sufficient time to indicate whether additional time is needed. 

Example: Thrift Savings Plan 

www.tsp.gov

National GACC Website and GACC Website Template  

40

  Implementation Guidelines