I have reached out to screen reader users to test the datatable directory that I have been working on, and their feedback for use via screen readers was disappointing. Comments included:
* the alphabet bar is read as one word, and does not have an option to navigate in or out of it. When tabbing through the page, it is skipped altogether.
* the actual rows of information cannot be tabbed through or read (e.g. can navigate down and expand a child row if the row's details are collapsed, but there is no way to tab through the actual information to read it)
* unable to use arrow keys to get out of the generated dropdown filter for departments - can tab into the dropdown, but once something is selected via enter, if tab is pressed again it takes you out of the table and into the pagination.
This is incredibly important to have functioning for our users and also for abiding by ADA regulations, and I'd really like to be able to deploy this directory using datatables. Do you have any resources or additional information that can help remedy this?
You can see how it works with keyboard navigation here: https://live.datatables.net/qajomele/2/edit