Does a cookie notice count as an interruption?

It appears once at the first visit and is legally necessary; that is considered permissible. A hint that comes back at every visit is an interruption.

What is an Emergency Exception?

A warning that protects health, safety or data: session expires, input is lost, storm warning. She may interrupt.

How is this different from 2.2.2 (pause)?

2.2.2 (level A) refers to moving or updating content that must be pauseable. 2.2.4 concerns interruptions that come from outside and tear the visitor out of his work.

This translation has not been editorially reviewed yet. The German version is authoritative. Deutsche Fassung

Accessibility

How to turn off interruptions on a website?

A reference window that pops up in the middle of reading, a chat that opens, a page that reloads every 30 seconds: For people with concentration disorders or visual impairment, such interruptions tear the thread. Level AAA criterion 2.2.4 requires visitors to be able to postpone or disable interruptions. Except for emergencies, such as a warning of data loss.

What the Criterion Requires

Everything that interrupts the visitor without being asked can be postponed or switched off: hints, chat invitations, message tickers, automatic updates, surveys. The visitor decides when to see them. Only an interruption that is necessary for health, security or the receipt of data may prevail. A setting that remains once set meets the criterion; A closing button alone does not fulfill it, because the interruption has already happened.

For whom this counts

Whoever works with audible reading program loses the place where he was at every opening window; the program reads out the new content, and the way back is laborious. Anyone who has an attention disorder finds it difficult to return to the text after an interruption. Anyone who uses a magnification sees only a section and often does not notice what has changed outside. A quiet side is a usable side for all three groups.

This is how we deal with it

The measurement finds updates in the page header and scripts that open windows by time and displays them as an indication. If there is a setting to switch off, a person checks. The criterion belongs to the category AAA in knowledge.

Examples

Newsletter window after 20 seconds

Not met

setTimeout(zeigeNewsletterDialog, 20000);

Passes

if (!einstellungen.ruhe) setTimeout(zeigeNewsletterDialog, 20000);
// Schalter im Konto oder im Fußbereich: „Einblendungen aus“ – gemerkt im Browser

Interruptions can be shifted or switched off; only warnings for security or data loss must prevail.

Count what appears unasked on your page: chat, newsletter window, cookie reminder, survey, update.
Delete what you do not need; This is the simplest implementation.
For the rest: a setting in the account or a counter on the page that permanently stops the interruption.
Run updates on request (update button), not by time.

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