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Category: Inclusive Design Practices

Flexibility in Use

Also known as: Principle 2 (Universal Design)
Simply put

Flexibility in Use is one of the seven Principles of Universal Design, and it means designing products and environments so they accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. For example, a design might offer more than one way to accomplish a task or work equally well for right- or left-handed users. The goal is to give people choices so a design suits how different individuals actually use it.

Formal definition

Flexibility in Use is the second of the seven Principles of Universal Design, defined as design that accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. Associated guidelines commonly cited include providing choice in methods of use and accommodating right- or left-handed access and use. As a design principle rather than a legal or technical conformance standard, it informs inclusive design practice but is distinct from specific requirements such as WCAG success criteria or statutory mandates; practitioners should treat it as a design framework rather than a compliance benchmark.

Why it matters

People differ widely in how they interact with products, tools, and environments, and a single fixed way of doing something inevitably works well for some users while excluding others. Flexibility in Use, the second of the seven Principles of Universal Design, addresses this reality by encouraging designs that accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. When a design offers more than one path to the same outcome, it reduces the number of people who are forced to adapt to the product rather than the product adapting to them.

The practical value of this principle is easiest to see in everyday examples. Right- and left-handed scissors, or a tool that works equally well regardless of which hand a person uses, illustrate how offering choice removes a barrier that many designs create unintentionally. In physical environments, features that provide alternative methods of participation extend the same benefit to a broader group of users. The common thread is choice: giving people options so the design fits how they actually work rather than how a designer assumed they would.

It is important to treat Flexibility in Use as a design framework rather than a legal or technical compliance benchmark. It is not a WCAG success criterion, and it is distinct from statutory requirements such as those under the ADA, Section 508, or the Rehabilitation Act. Applying this principle can support more inclusive outcomes, but it does not by itself establish conformance with any technical standard or guarantee compliance with any law. Organizations with specific legal obligations should consult qualified counsel and the applicable standards.

Who it's relevant to

UX and Product Designers
Designers can use Flexibility in Use to evaluate whether their work assumes a single mode of interaction or offers users genuine choice in how they accomplish tasks. It is a useful framing early in the design process, though it should be paired with standards-based accessibility work for digital products.
Industrial and Environmental Designers
Those designing physical products and spaces can apply this principle through features that accommodate a range of preferences and abilities, such as tools that work for right- or left-handed users or environments that support more than one method of participation.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design Practitioners
Practitioners can treat Flexibility in Use as one of the seven Universal Design principles that inform inclusive practice. It provides a conceptual foundation but is distinct from WCAG conformance and legal requirements, which must be addressed separately.
Business Leaders and Product Owners
Decision-makers can use this principle to encourage designs that serve a broader audience by offering choice. It should be understood as a design framework that supports inclusive outcomes, not as a measure that establishes legal compliance or immunity from claims; consult qualified counsel for obligations under specific laws.

Inside Flexibility in Use

Origin in Universal Design
Flexibility in Use is one of the seven Principles of Universal Design, a framework developed by a working group of architects, product designers, engineers, and environmental design researchers. It is a design philosophy rather than a legal standard or a codified technical specification such as WCAG.
Accommodation of Individual Preferences and Abilities
The principle holds that a design should offer choice in methods of use so it can serve people with a wide range of preferences and abilities, rather than assuming a single mode of interaction works for everyone.
Choice in Method of Use
A core component is providing more than one way to accomplish a task, so users can select the approach that best fits their needs, such as different input methods or interaction paths.
Adaptability to User Pace and Precision
Flexibility in Use commonly encompasses accommodating variation in the pace at which people work and in the accuracy or precision they can bring to an interaction, allowing users to proceed on their own terms.
Relationship to Digital Accessibility
While the principle originates in general Universal Design, its intent aligns with digital accessibility goals. Designers often draw on it when building interfaces, but it is conceptual guidance and does not by itself establish conformance with WCAG or compliance with laws such as the ADA, Section 508, or Section 504.

Common questions

Answers to the questions practitioners most commonly ask about Flexibility in Use.

Is Flexibility in Use the same thing as a WCAG success criterion I need to meet for compliance?
No. Flexibility in Use is one of the seven Principles of Universal Design, a broad design philosophy, not a technical requirement within the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG success criteria are testable requirements published by the W3C and organized under levels A, AA, and AAA, while the Universal Design principles are conceptual guidance for accommodating diverse users. The two frameworks can inform one another, but applying this principle does not by itself demonstrate conformance to any WCAG version or level, nor does it establish legal compliance under the ADA. Consult current standards and qualified counsel to understand specific obligations.
If my product offers multiple ways to complete a task, does that guarantee it is accessible?
Not necessarily. Providing choice and adaptability aligns with the spirit of Flexibility in Use, but offering multiple methods does not guarantee that each method works for people using assistive technologies or that the experience is usable in practice. Accessibility depends on how each option is implemented and tested. Automated checks detect only a portion of potential issues, so manual evaluation and testing with assistive technology are generally needed. Meeting a design principle is distinct from meeting technical conformance and from achieving legal compliance.
How can Flexibility in Use be applied when designing a digital interface?
It is commonly applied by giving users choices in how they interact with content, such as supporting both mouse and keyboard input, allowing multiple ways to navigate, and letting users adjust settings like text size, contrast, or pacing to suit their preferences and abilities. The goal is to accommodate a range of individual preferences and capabilities rather than assuming a single mode of interaction. Each option should still be evaluated against applicable technical standards and tested with assistive technologies.
What is the relationship between Flexibility in Use and offering keyboard and pointer alternatives?
Supporting more than one input method is a practical expression of Flexibility in Use, because it accommodates users who rely on different tools or techniques. In accessibility work, ensuring that functionality is operable through both keyboard and pointer inputs is often emphasized, and related considerations are addressed in WCAG under criteria concerning keyboard operability and input methods. Designers applying this principle should confirm that each supported input path is fully functional rather than partially implemented.
How does Flexibility in Use relate to user-adjustable settings?
The principle encourages designs that adapt to individual preferences, which can include letting users change aspects of the presentation or interaction, such as adjusting text size or choosing a preferred layout. Providing such controls can support a wider range of users, though the benefit depends on whether the controls themselves are perceivable and operable through assistive technologies. Adjustability should be treated as one factor among several and verified through testing rather than assumed to be sufficient on its own.
How should teams evaluate whether they have applied Flexibility in Use effectively?
Because Flexibility in Use is a design principle rather than a testable success criterion, evaluation is generally qualitative and best combined with technical accessibility testing. Teams often review whether multiple interaction paths exist, whether users can adapt the experience to their needs, and whether each option functions across different input methods and assistive technologies. Manual testing and testing with real assistive technology are typically necessary, since automated tools capture only part of the picture. This guidance is not legal advice, and applicable requirements should be confirmed against current standards and counsel.

Common misconceptions

Applying Flexibility in Use means a product meets WCAG or satisfies the ADA.
Flexibility in Use is a Universal Design principle, not a technical standard or legal requirement. Following it may support accessibility, but conformance with WCAG success criteria and compliance with authorities such as the ADA, Section 508, or Section 504 are separate matters that must be evaluated on their own terms, generally with manual and assistive technology testing and, where appropriate, qualified legal counsel.
Flexibility in Use only benefits people with disabilities.
As a Universal Design principle, it is intended to accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities, which can include many users regardless of whether they identify as having a disability. Its scope is broader than any single population.
Offering multiple ways to do something automatically produces an accessible or usable experience.
Providing choice in method of use is one component, but simply adding alternative paths does not guarantee usability for all users. Each option still needs to be designed and tested for accessibility, since meeting a design principle does not by itself ensure a good experience or immunity from legal claims.

Best practices

Offer more than one way to complete key tasks so users can choose the method that best matches their preferences and abilities.
Design interactions to accommodate variation in user pace and precision, avoiding assumptions about how quickly or accurately someone can operate an interface.
Treat Flexibility in Use as conceptual design guidance, then verify accessibility separately against the applicable WCAG version and conformance level (AA is the level most commonly cited as a target).
Combine automated testing with manual review and assistive technology testing, since automated checks detect only a portion of accessibility issues.
Document how each alternative method of use has been evaluated for accessibility rather than assuming that offering choices is sufficient.
Consult qualified legal counsel and current agency guidance to understand which authority applies to your context, since a design principle does not establish compliance with the ADA, Section 508, or Section 504.