When a function - like Smartline or Circle - is selected AccuDraw is not yet activated. The focus is still on "Home". Only after placing the first datapoint the focus changes to AccuDraw. Most of the time you want to place your first point precisely at a distance of an exsting elements vertex, right?
Of course you know that you activate AccuDraw through the Spacebar or F11, then move your mouse to AccuSnap the vertex and press "O" to make it your origin.
But there is another way that you may fancy.
Try this: Move the cursor to the vertex you need to take as orientation origin, press "CTRL" and both mouse buttons.
That is "ctrl"+left+right mousebutton
AccuDraw is now activated and the origin is right at that point. From there you now can go ahead, indicate your distance with the cursor an keyin the value or use whatever ÁccuDraw shortcut you need next.
Actually that activates AccuDraw from any focus you may currently be in and places the origin in one go. Also try this when you have "lost" the focus on AccuDraw because you had to edit some of the options in the Tool settings.