Missing Error Notification and Focus Handling for Required Fields

[samsadasivan]

Specs: MacOS
Screen Readers Used: Voiceover
Browsers Tested: Safari

Observation:

When a VoiceOver user submits a form without entering any data, required fields are not announced as such, no error indicators are provided, and focus is unexpectedly returned to the first interactive element without context. This creates a significant accessibility barrier.

1. No aria-required attributes or other semantic indicators are present on required fields.
2. Upon submission with empty required fields:

• No error messages are announced by the VO.
• No inline validation or error summary is presented.
• Focus returns to the top of the form or first interactive element without explanation.

Compounded Severity: Critical

Recommendation:
Required fields should be clearly indicated using aria-required="true" or native required attributes.

Upon submission:

• An accessible error message should be presented and programmatically associated with the relevant field using aria-describedby or similar methods.
• Focus should move to the first invalid field, and screen readers should announce the error contextually.
• Alternatively, an error summary region (with role="alert") should be presented and focused, with links to each field error.