WCAG SC 2.5.7 requires that all functionality using dragging movements can also be operated by a single pointer without dragging unless dragging is essential or determined by the user agent ( such as scroll bar ). This ensures that users with motor disabilities can interact with drag-and-drop interfaces effectively.
The dragging action involves several steps:
A)Tap or click to establish a starting point.
B)Press and hold while repositioning the pointer.
C)Release at the end point.
Many users cannot perform these actions, especially those using non-mouse devices like head-pointers or speech-to-text software. To make dragging universally accessible, providing an additional single-pointer method will resolve this issue.
A single-pointer gesture refers to actions like tap or click. For instance, in an ordered list of company priorities where each item can be moved up or down, an alternative method on each item allows users to adjust its order by changing its associated number.
Provide alternative controls for drag-and-drop: Provide buttons or other controls to move items instead of relying solely on drag-and-drop.
Ensure single-pointer alternatives for drag-and-drop: Whenever using drag-and-drop, ensure there is an alternative single-pointer method available to perform the action.
Provide single-tap controls for sliders: For sliders, ensure that a single tap or click can move the slider thumb along the line, or include + and - buttons to increment or decrement the thumb position on the line.
Offer alternative methods for reordering lists: In lists where items can be reordered by dragging, offer an alternative method on each item to adjust its order using associated numbers or other controls.
Example: Reordering List Items
A list of items can only be reordered by picking up an item and dragging it to a new position. Users must drag the item with a mouse or touch gesture, which can be challenging for users with motor disabilities.
Explanation:This implementation fails to provide accessible alternatives for users who cannot perform drag-and-drop actions. It does not meet the requirements of WCAG SC 2.5.7 as it lacks single pointer or non-dragging alternatives.
Provide up and down arrows next to each list item to allow step-wise reordering using single pointer inputs (taps or clicks). Include a text field displaying the current position of each item, allowing users to enter a number to reorder the list dynamically.
Explanation:In the correct implementation, users can reorder list items using up and down arrows or by entering a position number. This ensures that all users, including those with motor disabilities, can interact with the list effectively without needing to perform dragging movements.