WCAG and Digital Accessibility: What You Need to Know

Compliance vs Conformance

In web accessibility, "compliance" and "conformance" are often confused but have different meanings. Compliance refers to meeting legal requirements, like those set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or European Accessibility Act (EAA). It focuses on fulfilling minimum obligations to avoid penalties.

Conformance, however, means adhering to technical standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which outline best practices for making websites accessible. Conformance has different levels—A, AA, and AAA—each progressively improving accessibility.

In summary, compliance ensures legal adherence, while conformance aligns with broader standards to create a better user experience for everyone.

Principles & Requirements

In web accessibility, principles and requirements serve as the foundation for creating inclusive digital experiences.

The principles of web accessibility are outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) under four key areas: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (often referred to as POUR). These principles ensure that content can be seen, navigated, understood, and accessed by all users, including those with disabilities. They form the overarching goals that all accessible websites should strive to achieve.

On the other hand, requirements are the specific guidelines and success criteria within WCAG that websites need to meet to achieve conformance. By following these technical requirements, developers can ensure their sites meet both the legal and practical needs of users, making digital content more accessible and usable for everyone.

Together, the principles provide the framework for accessibility, while the requirements define the practical steps needed to ensure websites meet these standards and are usable by everyone.

Discover how you can apply these principles and meet accessibility requirements with our expert guidance. Find out more about how we can help make your website compliant and accessible for everyone.

WCAG Versions

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) has evolved through several versions to adapt to technological advancements and user needs:

• WCAG 1.0 was released in 1999 and is no longer recommended for use due to its limitations in addressing modern web technologies.
• WCAG 2.0 followed in 2008, introducing a more comprehensive framework and being the first version to be technology-agnostic, applying to all web content, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• In 2018, the W3C released WCAG 2.1, building upon the guidelines of 2.0 and introducing additional success criteria that address a broader range of disability-related needs and emerging technologies.
• The latest version, WCAG 2.2, was released in 2023.

The various versions of WCAG are backwards compatible, meaning that more recent versions incorporate the success criteria from earlier versions, with additions. Therefore, if content conforms with WCAG 2.2, it also conforms with WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.0.

What’s New in WCAG 2.2?

WCAG 2.2 introduces several enhancements to digital accessibility, including new success criteria like Focus Appearance for better contrast on focus indicators, Accessible Authentication for alternative login methods, Redundant Entry to reduce repetitive information entry, Consistent Navigation across pages, and Label in Name to ensure label consistency in user interface components. It also removes the unnecessary Parsing criterion from 2.0, supports touchscreen devices, and maintains backward compatibility with WCAG 2.0 and 2.1, aiming to create a more inclusive experience for users with disabilities.

To ensure that digital experiences conforming to WCAG 2.2, remain compliant, the W3C has made amendments to older versions of WCAG. This guarantees that content adhering to WCAG 2.2 is still backwards compatible with WCAG 2.1 and 2.0.

WCAG Conformance Levels

WCAG is structured around three levels of conformance, known as Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Each level represents a different degree of accessibility, allowing organizations to choose the level that best fits their needs and capabilities.

1. Level A: This is the most basic level of conformance. It includes essential requirements that must be met to avoid barriers for individuals with disabilities. Failing to meet Level A criteria can result in significant accessibility issues, making it the minimum standard for web accessibility.
2. Level AA: This level is often considered the standard for most websites and is commonly adopted by organizations. It builds upon Level A by including additional success criteria that address more complex accessibility challenges:
   • Visual elements (e.g., color contrast) to aid users with low vision.
   • Text resizing and adaptable layouts to improve usability across different devices.
   • Accessibility of navigation and content organization.
3. Level AAA: It represents the highest standard of web accessibility, incorporating all Level A and Level AA success criteria, along with additional guidelines. While striving for Level AAA is commendable, it is often impractical for all content. Many organizations find it challenging to meet this level due to its stringent requirements, but aiming for it can greatly enhance accessibility.

Organizations often aim for Level AA as a balanced approach, providing a good standard of accessibility while being feasible to implement. It's essential to evaluate the specific needs of your audience and the types of content you provide when determining which level of conformance to pursue.

Let us help you find your ideal Accessibility Level.

All you need to know about EU Regulations

Understand how the European Accessibility Act can impact your business and why it is crucial to comply with its regulations.