- Success Criterion 1.3.3
- Conformance level A
Instruction That Relies on a Swipe Direction With No Named Alternative
1.3.3 — Sensory Characteristics
Scenario
Setting
A crowdfunding platform's campaign page
What’s wrong
"Swipe right to accept" — orientation/direction-only instruction with no textual/control alternative naming.
Example
<div class="swipe-confirm" ontouchstart="startSwipe(event)">
Swipe right to confirm your pledge
</div>Why it matters
A screen reader user, switch-access user, or anyone with a motor impairment who cannot perform a directional swipe has no way to confirm their pledge at all.
How to test
Read the instruction alone: 'swipe right to accept' names only a gesture — check whether a labeled button does the same thing.
How to fix
Give every gesture-based action an equivalent named button that works with keyboard, switch, and screen reader input.
<button class="confirm-btn" onclick="confirmPledge()">Confirm pledge</button>Outcome
A switch-access user taps "Confirm pledge" and completes their contribution without needing to swipe.
Who is affected
Screen reader users, keyboard-only users, and motor-impaired switch users cannot perform or even perceive a directional swipe gesture.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
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- Instruction Given Only Through an Icon, With No Text Meaning
- Instruction That Tells Users to Click ‘the Green Button’
- Instruction That Says ‘See the Sidebar’ With No Other Locator
- Instruction That Identifies a Button Only by Its Size
- Instruction That Relies on an Audio Cue With No Visual Backup