Forms: screen readers announced untouched required fields as invalid

On forms across gablvm.org, including the contact form, screen readers could announce a required field as containing invalid data the moment a page loaded, before the visitor had entered anything. VoiceOver on iPhone and Mac was the most affected, hearing invalid data on fields that were simply empty. Every form remained fully usable throughout: options could be selected, steps advanced, and submissions completed normally, and no data was affected. The way required fields are marked has been reworked so screen readers now announce them as required rather than invalid. The behavior was likely present since the contact form launched in early July.

• Posted: Aug 31, 2026, 19:52 UTC
• Resolved: Aug 31, 2026, 20:16 UTC
• Duration: 24m

Timeline

1. resolved

   20:16 UTC

   This incident has been resolved.

2. monitoring

   20:14 UTC

   A fix has been implemented and we are monitoring the results.

3. identified

   20:12 UTC

   The issue has been identified and a fix is being implemented.

4. investigating

   19:52 UTC

   We are currently investigating a report that screen readers announce some form fields as invalid before any information has been entered.

Permalink: /incident/86