Under the Information and Communications Standards of the AODA, organizations must make their websites and web-based apps accessible. Organizations must do so by making their websites compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA. This international standard gives web developers guidelines on how to make their webpages accessible to computer users with disabilities. However, updates to the Information and Communications Standards could require organizations to comply with more recent versions of WCAG. An improved version of these guidelines, version 2.2, was released in October 2023. This article will outline WCAG 2.2’s web accessibility guidelines for dragging movements.
Web Accessibility Guidelines for Dragging Movements
Some people operate websites with a single pointer for input, using technologies such as:
- Head pointers
- Eye-gaze systems
- Speech-controlled mouse emulators
Alternatively, other people navigate websites with a keyboard instead of a mouse. People who operate websites in these ways cannot use dragging movements. However, there are many other methods people can use to change the positions of webpage elements. For example, people can select an element they wish to move, and choose its new position from a menu.
As a result, web designers should not create webpages where dragging movements are the only way to move elements around. Instead, designs should permit users to move elements with single pointer gestures or keyboard commands.
On the other hand, some webpages allow users to create content. Website designers cannot control the movement of content that users of a webpage create. As a result, the guidelines for dragging movements only apply to content that the original designers of a website have created.
Advanced Requirements
The WCAG webpage provides the full list of requirements, as well as technical guidance on how to implement them. The AODA only requires websites to follow guidelines in version 2.0, level AA. However, the WCAG webpage provides guidelines at level AAA. While websites do not need to follow these guidelines, they can choose to follow them as a best practice. Websites that follow more guidelines have the chance to welcome more visitors and do more online business.