The WCAG Explained

Summary:
WCAG 2.2, titled "Enough Time," focuses on providing users sufficient time to read and use content. This is crucial for ensuring that people with disabilities, like those who read slowly, have motor impairments, or need more time to understand information, can interact with web content without unnecessary stress or haste.

What:
This guideline encompasses various aspects of time-based content, including adjustable time limits for tasks, pausing, stopping, or hiding moving, blinking, scrolling content, and avoiding timing-based interactions unless necessary. It aims to make digital experiences more accessible by allowing users to control time-sensitive aspects of websites and applications.

1. 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable: For each time limit set by the content, users must have the ability to turn off, adjust, or extend the limit, except for real-time events and essential time-based activities.
2. 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide: Moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating information must have a mechanism for users to pause, stop, hide, or control the frequency of the update unless it's part of an essential activity.
3. 2.2.3 No Timing: Content that requires user response does not impose any time limit, ensuring accessibility for users who need more time to read or use content.
4. 2.2.4 Interruptions: Interruptions, such as updates or alerts, must be postponable or suppressible by the user, except in cases of emergency.
5. 2.2.5 Re-authenticating: If a user session expires and they have to re-authenticate, they should not lose any data previously entered or activity undertaken.
6. 2.2.6 Timeouts: Users should be informed about the duration of inactivity that could cause data loss, unless the data is preserved for more than 20 hours when the user does not take any actions.

Why:
Time limits or rapidly changing content can be a significant barrier for many users. For instance, someone using a screen reader needs more time to navigate and understand content, and people with cognitive disabilities may require additional time to process information. Ensuring users have control over these time aspects is key to inclusive design.

Examples and Scenarios:

1. Adjustable Time Limits: In online quizzes or forms with a time limit, provide options to extend the time.
2. Moving or Auto-updating Content: For sliders, carousels, or auto-updating news feeds, include controls to pause, stop, or hide the motion or updates.
3. Time-Based Media: In media players, provide sufficient controls for users to manage playback without being constrained by strict time limits.

How to Comply:

• Websites: Implement features allowing users to control time limits and manage moving or auto-updating content. Use JavaScript and HTML attributes to create these functionalities.
• Mobile Apps: Ensure that any time-based functionalities in apps are adjustable and that users can control any moving or auto-updating elements.
• Software Applications: Provide settings or controls for users to manage time-sensitive aspects of the application, enhancing usability for those who need more time to interact with the content.

Exceptions:

• Real-time Events: When the timing of an activity is essential (like live auctions or interactive gaming), adjusting time limits might not be feasible.
• Essential Time Limits: In cases where the time limit is essential and extending it would invalidate the activity (like a timed test), exceptions might apply.