Google Chrome Frame – accessibility black hole

See update 07/2012: Google Chrome accessibility update

Google have released Chrome Frame a plugin-in for Internet Explorer “that seamlessly brings Google Chrome’s open web technologies and speedy JavaScript engine to Internet Explorer.” What it also does is seamlessly bring Google Chrome’s lack of support for assistive technologies to Internet Explorer.



If a page is viewed through Google Chrome Frame in Internet Explorer no content is available to the user of assistive technology (AT). This can be illustrated using the Microsofts accexplorer tool:

An example page viewed without Google chrome frame:

When not using Google Chrome Frame, all of the content is available in Internet Explorer to assistive technology via the MSAA Accessibility API.



The same example page viewed using the Google Chrome Frame plug-in:

No content is available to assistive technologies via the MSAA accessibility API. Effectively the whole page becomes invisible to users of AT.

Why would a user of AT install Google Chrome Frame?

Like other people it is presumed users of AT want the opportunity to take advantage of the latest technologies and powerful new features Google Chrome provides, and may want to install the plug-in if they are prompted to do so to access site content.

What does the lack of support for AT in Google Chrome Frame mean?

Users of AT are locked out of taking adavantage of “Google Chrome’s open web technologies and speedy JavaScript engine” until Google makes its Google Chrome Browser and Google Chrome Frame plug-in fully support assistive technology.

Further Reading

Google Chrome 2.0 Accessibility Improvements?