Understanding SC 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable

2.2.1 Timing Adjustable: For each time limit that is set by the content, at least one of the following is true: (Level A)

• Turn off: The user is allowed to turn off the time limit before encountering it; or
• Adjust: The user is allowed to adjust the time limit before encountering it over a wide range that is at least ten times the length of the default setting; or
• Extend: The user is warned before time expires and given at least 20 seconds to extend the time limit with a simple action (for example, “press the space bar”), and the user is allowed to extend the time limit at least ten times; or
• Real-time Exception: The time limit is a required part of a real-time event (for example, an auction), and no alternative to the time limit is possible; or
• Essential Exception: The time limit is essential and extending it would invalidate the activity; or
• 20 Hour Exception: The time limit is longer than 20 hours.

This success criterion requires that generally users & people with disabilities must be provided with enough time limit to complete the tasks. Imagine you are reading a web page or completing a task & if the web page expires without warning, you will get distracted & will not be able to finish the reading of the page or complete the task. Generally, users need more time to read such content & people with disabilities & elderly need more time than common users to read such pages.

Exceptions

There are some exceptions for this success criterion too pass

• The time limit is more than 20 hours.
• Time limit is essential for business such as flight booking sites where unlimited time cannot be provided as it impacts the business.
• If content is a live video stream.
• The time limit is due to real-time events, like bidding in an auction.

Who Benefits

• People with physical disabilities require more time to complete tasks as they require more time to type or navigate to controls
• People who have low vision need more time to locate content/controls and read them
• People who are blind and who use screen readers require more time to understand the screen layout, read the content, locate controls and operate them
• People who are deaf require more time to understand the audio content as a sign language interpreter interprets to them
• People with reading disabilities and cognitive disabilities require more time to read contents and understand them and react.

Points To Remember

• Provide a control on the landing page for the user to initiate a longer session time or no session timeout.
• Provide a way for the user to turn off the session time out.
• Provide a means to set the time limit to 10 times the default time limit.
• Prompt the user with help of a pop-up or modal so that enough warning is available for the user to reset the time limit.
• Make sure controls provided to extend the time limit are keyboard operable.
• Moving, scrolling and/or blinking content must have mechanism to pause or stop the movement or scroll or blink.
• Auto updating content must be provided with feature to extend the time limit to 10 times of its actual update frequency.

References

Understanding Success Criterion 2.2.1