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

About Raghavendra Satish Peri

Peri as he is fondly called brings in rich experience in Digital Accessibility; He has worked with various clients ranging from Travel & Hospitality, ecommerce, Entertainment, Banking & Finance. Presently, he works at Deque Software as Digital Accessibility Consultant slaying web accessibility & mobile accessibility challenges.