When you develop your application, Pega Platform automatically assigns WAI-ARIA roles to the screen layout (see WAI-ARIA roles in a screen layout). Other layouts in the system do not have default accessibility roles when you create them. For most use cases, the blank setting is sufficient. However, when you design a layout that behaves in an unconventional way, you must assign a WAI-ARIA roles to that layout by hand.

For example, your page might include a large layout that you can click. Because the default role for the layout is blank, a screen reader ignores the layout and does not inform the user that it can be clicked. If you assign a button role to the layout by hand, the screen reader can interpret the header correctly.

1. In the navigation pane of Dev Studio, click Records.
2. Expand the User Interface category, and then click Section.
3. Open the section that you want to edit.
4. If your section uses a template, in the section editor header, click convert to full section editor, and then confirm the conversion.
5. Select the dynamic layout to which you want to assign a WAI-ARIA role, and then click the View properties icon.
   Note: Only dynamic layouts support WAI-ARIA roles.
6. In the Accessibility section, in the Role type list, define the general role of the layout:
   • To mark a layout as a primary part of the page, such as a form, select Landmark.
   • To mark a layout as a structural, non-interactive part of the page, such as a header, select Document structure.
   • To mark a layout as an interactive part of the page, such as a link, select Component/Widget.
   For example: Select Component/Widget for access roles related to interactive elements.
7. In the Value field, select the specific role for the layout.
   For example: Select Button to mark the layout as an element that you can click.
8. In the Label field, provide a short, meaningful description of the content of the layout, and then click Submit.
   For example: Link to the home page.
9. On the design template form, click Save.