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 entering repeat information in online forms.
Web Accessibility Guidelines for Entering Repeat Information in Online Forms
Some online forms require users to enter the same information multiple times. For example, a form may ask someone to enter:
- Their home address
- A shipping address when they buy something
When a person chooses to ship their purchase to their home, these two addresses are the same. However, web designers should avoid requiring people to enter the same information more than once. Instead, web designers can create other ways for people to indicate that the same information applies to different situations. For instance, after someone has entered their address, they could select a checkbox to indicate that their shipping address is the same as their home address. Similarly, content creators can design forms so that repeated information is filled in automatically. Alternatively, the information can appear as an option for people to choose. These designs ensure that people do not have to type the same information multiple times.
Exceptions
Web designers should only require people to input repeated information in online forms if it is:
- Essential
- Required for security reasons
- Not valid anymore
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.