Provide keyboard equivalents for all navigator actions. Rationale Navigators provide a graphical display of folders, views and design elements to make it easier for most users to find information. However, you cannot access the navigator without the use of a mouse and the graphical display of information is inaccessible to assistive technologies like screen readers. In order to make navigators accessible to someone using the keyboard or a screen reader, it is important to provide an alternative method to accomplish the same functions. R5 supports outlines, a new navigation tool which provides function equivalent to a navigator.
Outlines are accessible and easier to maintain than navigators.
Whenever possible, outlines should be used in place of navigators to provide custom navigation for your application. Use outlines instead of navigators to create accessible navigation for your applications. An outline lets you create an organizing structure for an application and gives you control over how elements are displayed in a navigator pane. Outlines are programmable and customizable so you can control the look of the outline while maintaining accessibility. If the outline will be used for web applications, do not select the option to display using the Java applet.