What this criterion requires
Interruptions - popups, update prompts, notifications - can be postponed or suppressed by the user, except emergencies.
Who it helps
People with attention and cognitive disabilities, screen reader users mid-task.
Example: fails vs passes
A newsletter popup interrupts a screen reader user mid-checkout.
Notifications are queued behind a user-controlled "do not disturb" preference.
AAA: interruptions can be postponed or suppressed, except emergencies.
How to meet and fix it
- Provide a "do not disturb" or notification preferences control
Common failures auditors find
- Marketing popups that steal focus mid-form with no way to defer them
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 2.2.4: Interruptions - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 2.2.4 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
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