Is there a way to write content that screen readers will ignore?

I've just been working on a page which needs to be accessible to both sighted and visually impaired users. Some elements of the content, just by the nature of relating only to visual elements, simply do not apply to people using screen readers. For example, a link opens an audio-visual presentation in a new window, but due to circumstances beyond my control, the window is awkwardly resized, so there's a message saying that you should resize the window so you can see everything better. Obviously this is useless information to someone who can't see it anyway.

Is there an accepted way to make screen readers ignore some content?

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The issue with hiding specific pieces of information from users of assistive technologies is that it assumes they are using your software alone in some dark room, which simply not a safe assumption. Many users of assistive technology collaborate closely with other users (to whom this information would be relevant), and a few very fortunate ones even have assistants. You would be wise to de-emphasize or under-prioritize this content for them instead by placing it later in the document somehow.

answered 2011-10-11T21:24:40.057

Is there a way to write content that screen readers will ignore?

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