- Success Criterion 1.4.12
- Conformance level AA
Author CSS Blocking the User’s Own Text-Spacing Stylesheet
1.4.12 — Text Spacing
Scenario
Setting
A nonprofit's donation form
What’s wrong
!important inline/author styles blocking user stylesheet overrides from applying at all.
Example
This shows up on a nonprofit's donation form: !important inline/author styles blocking user stylesheet overrides from applying at all.
Why it matters
People with dyslexia or low vision who apply extra text spacing to read. Here, on a nonprofit's donation form, the result is they can't perceive part of the content because of how it's displayed.
How to test
Apply the text-spacing override via a user stylesheet or extension: if the page's own !important CSS blocks the override from applying at all, it fails.
How to fix
With user text-spacing overrides applied (line height 1.5, paragraph 2x, letter 0.12em, word 0.16em), all content and controls must remain visible and usable.
Outcome
After the fix, the same visitor to a nonprofit's donation form can now read the text clearly against its background.
Who is affected
People with dyslexia or low vision who apply extra text spacing to read.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Text That Clips or Overlaps Under User Text-Spacing Settings
- Fixed-Height Container Clipping Text at Wider Line Spacing
- Text Overlapping the Section Below After Spacing Changes
- Button Label That Vanishes Under Increased Text Spacing
- Tooltip or Dropdown That Truncates Under Text-Spacing Overrides
- JavaScript Truncation That Deletes Content on Text-Spacing Change