WCAG compliance

What is WCAG?

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG, is an internationally recognized accessibility standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
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WCAG provides a framework of criteria for all public and private organizations, ensuring equal access to digital content, websites, and applications. These guidelines are used by government agencies and advocacy groups around the world to establish online-accessibility laws and regulations..

How Does WCAG Measure Accessibility?

The current WCAG (version 2.0) covers accessibility requirements based on four principles, forming the acronym POUR.

These Principles are:
Perceivable
Operable
Understandable
Robust

Perceivable means that all users can easily interact with digital content through different senses. This could mean providing transcripts for podcasts or adding alt text to images.
Operable enables interaction with web content b various methods. For example: designing for keyboard navigation instead of only mouse-users.
Understandable refers to content that is clear and consistent. Logical navigation and standardized forms are one way this is shown.
Robust ensures a reliable interpretation of digital content with or without assistive technologies and tools.

WCAG rates compliance by three levels:

‍Level A – Shows a minimum of accessibility. Level A will likely not comply with many current and upcoming laws and regulations
Level AA – Identifies a standard level of accessibility, adhering to most of the current guidelines and regulations
Level AAA – Indicates the highest level of accessibility best practices across all principles, including many expected future accessibility laws

Why Compliance Matters

WCAG objectives encompass all website owners, developers, and designers. They ensure compliance with accessibility laws in all countries as well as improve a website’s online performance and brand reputation.

Non-compliance with accessibility regulations can lead to legal consequences, such as fines and lawsuits, as well as damage to a brand’s reputation.