Section: 8. Animation
8.1 - Avoid flickering, blinking, and unnecessary animation.
What:
Animated graphics, Flash, Java, <blink> tags, <marquee> tags, and other techniques are often used to create a variety of animated effects.
Why:
Flickering or blinking between 2 and 55 Hz (flashes per second) can trigger epileptic seizures. Animation can be distracting to users with certain visual or cognitive disabilities.
How:
Do not cause elements to blink regularly between 2 and 55 Hz. Avoid animation and movement unless it provides significant additional information.
Guidelines:
Access VT: 8.1
WCAG 7.1, 7.2, 7.3
Section 508 j
8.2 - Avoid uncontrolled animation and/or loop elements
What:
Animated graphics, Flash, Java, and other techniques used to create animated effects may be uncontrollable by users and/or loop continuously.
Why:
Animation and looped animated effects can be distraction to users with certain visual or cognitive disabilities. Animation looping may also cause a screen reader to refresh and return to the top of the page without user control or notification. Screen readers will leave the current page location and resume reading at the top of the page when animation is uncontrolled, seriously diminishing the user's experience.
How:
Give users control over animation loop elements, such as start, stop, slow, rewind, and fast-forward. For users of screen readers or persons with certain cognitive disabilities, support the user's ability to skip or hide animation and provide equivalent content in an alternative format.
Guidelines:
Access VT: 8.2