What to change
Ask your supplier to return keyboard navigation to the control that opened the panel, or a clear nearby alternative if that control no longer exists.
A worked example
Illustrative example
A visitor opens more details for a service, reads them and closes the panel. Focus returns to that service's details control so exploration can continue.
Why this matters to your practice
Closing a help panel should return someone to the place where they asked for help. That makes it easy to continue comparing services or filling out a form. Ask your supplier to show the next keyboard action after the panel closes, rather than checking only that it disappears. Where the original control has genuinely gone, agree a sensible nearby return point. Different closing routes, such as a visible button and Escape, should not strand the visitor in unrelated places.
A practical review example
A visitor opens more details for one service, reads the panel and closes it. Ask your supplier to show the very next keyboard action. It should continue from that service's context instead of starting again at the top or remaining on a removed panel control. Repeat with the visible close button, Escape where supported and any outside-click route. For a panel that changes its opener, agree the successor deliberately so completing an action leaves the person oriented for the next step.
How to check the result
Accept when dismissal leaves the visitor at an understandable place in the original task rather than an invisible or arbitrary destination.
A mistake to avoid
Scrolling the opener into view is helpful but insufficient if keyboard focus still remains somewhere unrelated.
Turn reading into a next step
Your action checklist
Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.
Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.
Use project decisions only, without personal, patient or confidential details. Entries stay in this page and are not submitted to Kay & Co. Copy or download before leaving; this page does not save your notes.
Further reading
These sources provide background for the topic. The practice examples and checklist are illustrative planning suggestions from Kay & Co.
Related guides
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