Bypass Blocks - Success Criterion 2.4.1 (Level A)

Question

Is there a way for users to bypass blocks of content such as setting controls and large navigation areas in order to skip to the main content?

Why is this important?

Sites and applications often use links and blocks of content such as navigation menus and advertisement banners that repeat on multiple pages. Sighted users are able to skip to the main content by visually skimming a page. Screen reader and keyboard only users may find it difficult to reach the main content quickly, because their controls will access all repetitive content sequentially.

Whom does it benefit?

Example 1

As a person who is blind,
I want my screen reader to go directly to the main content on the page
so that I can read the text without having to spend time listening to all the navigation links.

Example 2

As a person with low vision who uses a screen magnifier,
I want to go directly to the main text on the page
so that I can save time by not having to search through side bars and advertisements.

Example 3

As a person who has a mobility disability,
I want to use minimal strokes with my keyboard
so that I can quickly get to the content I want to read.

What should you do?

Provide a way for assistive technology and keyboard users to skip repetitive navigation links and blocks of content.
Group repetitive blocks of content in a way that can be skipped for assistive technology and keyboard users.

How do you do it?

Add a “skip to main content” link to the top of the page.
Use collapsible/expandable menus which allow users to skip menus.
Add a link to the beginning of a block of repeated content that takes the user to the end of that block.