Matt BiehlThe recent release of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 marks a significant step forward in making the web more accessible and inclusive. Here's a look at the key changes and examples of how they impact users.
1. Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) (AA)
Change: Ensures items receiving keyboard focus are at least partially visible. Example: Consider a user with a motor disability using a keyboard to navigate a website. Previously, some elements receiving focus might have been hidden behind a static page footer. Now, WCAG 2.2 mandates that these elements be at least partially visible, significantly enhancing navigation for keyboard users.
2. Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced) (AAA)
Change: Extends the above to ensure fully visible focus. Example: This change further benefits keyboard users, like a person with arthritis who struggles with mouse use. It ensures that when they tab through a site, every focused item is completely visible, not just partially.
3. Focus Appearance (AAA)
Change: Requires visible focus indicators with sufficient size and contrast. Example: A senior citizen with low vision might find it challenging to locate the keyboard focus on a webpage. The enhanced focus indicators, with their larger size and higher contrast, make web navigation much more accessible for them.
4. Dragging Movements (AA)
Change: Provides alternatives to dragging actions. Example: An individual with a tremor might find it hard to click and drag to organize items in a list. With WCAG 2.2, the same functionality can be achieved using simple clicks, improving their web experience.
5. Target Size (Minimum) (AA)
Change: Ensures larger target sizes or adequate spacing for interactive elements. Example: A user with limited fine motor skills might struggle to click small, closely spaced buttons. WCAG 2.2's larger target size helps them select options accurately, reducing frustration and errors.
6. Consistent Help (A)
Change: Places help mechanisms in the same location across multiple pages. Example: A user with cognitive disabilities might find varying help locations confusing. Consistent placement of these features, such as a chat option always in the lower right corner, offers them a more predictable and user-friendly experience.
7. Redundant Entry (A)
Change: Minimizes the need to re-enter information. Example: A user with short-term memory issues is filling out a multi-step form. WCAG 2.2's guidelines ensure that previously entered information is auto-filled in subsequent steps, easing their form completion process.
8. Accessible Authentication (Minimum) (AA)
Change: Simplifies the authentication process, avoiding reliance on cognitive tests. Example: A user with cognitive challenges may struggle with remembering passwords. WCAG 2.2 encourages alternative methods like email verification, allowing them easier access to their accounts.
These changes in WCAG 2.2 are not just about compliance; they represent a shift towards a more empathetic and inclusive digital world. By understanding and implementing these guidelines, we can create a web environment that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.