header.js
------------
Fade main content to white/grey when search bar has focus
fade out:
$('.wh_content_area').fadeTo(500, 0.2);
fade back in
$('.wh_content_area').fadeTo(500, 1);


if ($('#textToSearch.activeElement')){
    $('.wh_content_area').fadeTo(500, 0.2);
    $('.wh_content_area').find('*').prop('disabled', true);
}

jQuery (>= 1.7):

The following selects all descendant elements and disables them:

$("#dcacl").find("*").prop("disabled", true);
$("#dcacl").find("*").prop("disabled", false);