Understanding WCAG: The Foundation of Web Accessibility
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is an international standard developed by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) that provides detailed recommendations for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines address barriers affecting users with:
- Visual disabilities (blindness, low vision, color blindness)
- Hearing disabilities (deafness, hard of hearing)
- Motor disabilities (difficulty using mouse, keyboard-only navigation)
- Cognitive disabilities (learning difficulties, memory impairments)
- Seizure disorders (sensitivity to flashing content)
What’s New in WCAG 2.2?
Released in October 2023, WCAG 2.2 builds on previous versions (2.0 and 2.1) by adding 9 new success criteria that address gaps identified through user research and feedback. These additions particularly benefit:
- Mobile device users requiring better touch target sizing
- People with cognitive disabilities needing simplified authentication
- Low vision users requiring better focus indicators
- Users who need more control over content that moves or updates
Key New Success Criteria in WCAG 2.2
- Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) – Level AA: When an element receives focus, it isn’t entirely hidden by other content
- Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced) – Level AAA: No part of the focused element is hidden by other content
- Focus Appearance – Level AAA: Focus indicators are highly visible with specific size and contrast requirements
- Dragging Movements – Level AA: Functionality requiring dragging has a single-pointer alternative
- Target Size (Minimum) – Level AA: Interactive elements are at least 24×24 CSS pixels
- Consistent Help – Level A: Help mechanisms appear in the same order across pages
- Redundant Entry – Level A: Information previously entered is auto-populated or available to select
- Accessible Authentication (Minimum) – Level AA: Cognitive function tests aren’t required for authentication unless alternatives exist
- Accessible Authentication (Enhanced) – Level AAA: No cognitive function tests required for authentication
The Three Conformance Levels Explained
WCAG organizes its success criteria into three conformance levels, each building on the previous:
Level A: Minimum Accessibility
Level A represents the bare minimum for accessibility. These 30 success criteria address the most severe barriers that would completely prevent access for many users. Examples include providing text alternatives for images, ensuring keyboard access, and avoiding content that causes seizures. Meeting only Level A is generally insufficient for legal compliance or meaningful accessibility.
Level AA: Recommended Standard
Level AA is the recommended target for most organizations. It includes all Level A criteria plus 20 additional requirements covering color contrast, resizable text, consistent navigation, and form labels. Level AA compliance satisfies ADA Title III requirements and most international accessibility laws, including Section 508 (U.S. federal agencies) and the European Accessibility Act.
Level AAA: Enhanced Accessibility
Level AAA represents the highest level of accessibility with 28 additional criteria. Requirements include sign language interpretation for videos, extended audio descriptions, and enhanced contrast ratios. While ideal, Level AAA compliance isn’t always achievable for all content. Organizations typically implement Level AAA selectively for critical content or specific user populations.
The Four POUR Principles
All WCAG success criteria are organized under four foundational principles, remembered by the acronym POUR:
1. Perceivable
Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This means:
- Providing text alternatives for non-text content
- Creating content that can be presented in different ways without losing information
- Making it easier for users to see and hear content
2. Operable
Users must be able to operate the interface through various input methods:
- Making all functionality available from a keyboard
- Giving users enough time to read and use content
- Helping users navigate and find content
3. Understandable
Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable:
- Making text readable and understandable
- Making content appear and operate in predictable ways
- Helping users avoid and correct mistakes
4. Robust
Content must be robust enough to work with current and future technologies:
- Maximizing compatibility with current and future assistive technologies
- Using valid, semantic HTML code
How to Achieve WCAG 2.2 Compliance
Implementing WCAG 2.2 compliance requires a systematic approach:
Step 1: Conduct an Accessibility Audit
Start by using an automated accessibility checker to scan your website for WCAG violations. Automated tools can identify 30-50% of accessibility issues, including missing alt text, color contrast failures, and form label errors. Follow up with manual testing using screen readers and keyboard-only navigation to catch issues automation misses.
Step 2: Prioritize Remediation
Not all accessibility issues are equally critical. Prioritize fixes based on:
- Severity: Issues that completely block access should be fixed first
- Frequency: Problems appearing on multiple pages have broader impact
- User flow: Focus on critical paths like checkout and registration
Step 3: Implement Fixes Systematically
Address accessibility issues in your codebase, design systems, and content creation processes. Common fixes include:
- Adding descriptive alt text to images
- Increasing color contrast to meet 4.5:1 minimum ratio
- Ensuring keyboard navigation works for all interactive elements
- Providing captions and transcripts for audio/video content
- Using semantic HTML and ARIA attributes correctly
Step 4: Test with Real Users
The best way to validate accessibility improvements is testing with people who actually use assistive technologies. Recruit users with various disabilities to test your site and provide feedback on remaining barriers.
Step 5: Maintain Ongoing Compliance
Accessibility isn’t a one-time project. Establish processes for:
- Regular accessibility scanning of new content
- Training content creators and developers
- Including accessibility in design and QA processes
- Monitoring for new WCAG updates and requirements
Why WCAG 2.2 Compliance Matters
Legal Protection
ADA website lawsuits increased by 14% in 2023, with businesses facing settlements averaging $20,000-$50,000. WCAG 2.1 Level AA (which WCAG 2.2 builds upon) is widely accepted as the standard for ADA Title III compliance.
Expanded Market Reach
People with disabilities represent a $13 trillion market opportunity globally. Accessible websites capture this audience that competitors may be excluding.
Improved SEO
Many accessibility best practices overlap with SEO, including semantic HTML, descriptive link text, proper heading structure, and fast page load times. Accessible sites typically rank better in search results.
Better User Experience for Everyone
Accessibility improvements benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. Features like captions help people watching videos in noisy environments, and larger touch targets improve usability on mobile devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WCAG 2.2 mandatory?
WCAG itself isn’t a law, but many regulations reference it as the technical standard. The ADA, Section 508, European Accessibility Act, and other laws increasingly require WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance (WCAG 2.2 builds on 2.1). While not explicitly mandatory everywhere, WCAG 2.2 represents current best practices and legal expectations.
What’s the difference between WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2?
WCAG 2.2 adds 9 new success criteria to WCAG 2.1 without removing any existing requirements. All WCAG 2.1 success criteria remain in 2.2. The new criteria focus on mobile accessibility, cognitive disabilities, and low vision users. Organizations already compliant with WCAG 2.1 need to implement these 9 additional requirements to achieve WCAG 2.2 compliance.
How long does it take to achieve WCAG 2.2 compliance?
Timeline varies based on website size, complexity, and current accessibility level. Small websites (10-50 pages) with moderate issues typically require 2-4 months. Large enterprise sites may need 6-12 months for comprehensive remediation. Ongoing maintenance continues indefinitely.
Do I need to fix every WCAG violation to be compliant?
To claim a specific conformance level (A, AA, or AAA), you must meet all success criteria at that level across your entire website. However, perfect scores aren’t always realistic. Focus on substantial compliance—addressing major barriers and demonstrating good faith efforts to maintain accessibility.
Can automated tools alone achieve WCAG compliance?
No. Automated tools identify 30-50% of accessibility issues but miss nuanced problems requiring human judgment, such as whether alt text is meaningful, heading hierarchy makes sense, or link text provides adequate context. Combine automated scanning with manual testing and user feedback for comprehensive accessibility.
What happens if my website isn’t WCAG compliant?
Consequences include potential lawsuits (ADA claims cost $20,000-$50,000+ to resolve), lost customers (people with disabilities will go to accessible competitors), SEO penalties (search engines favor accessible sites), and reputational damage. Many businesses face multiple lawsuits as plaintiffs’ attorneys systematically target non-compliant sites.
Should I wait for WCAG 3.0?
No. WCAG 3.0 is still in early draft stages and won’t be finalized for several years. WCAG 2.2 is the current standard that laws and regulations reference. Implement WCAG 2.2 now—when WCAG 3.0 eventually releases, it will maintain backwards compatibility with 2.x success criteria.
How much does WCAG compliance cost?
Costs vary widely based on website complexity. DIY approaches using automated tools cost $0-$500. Professional audits range from $5,000-$25,000 for comprehensive assessments. Remediation costs depend on the number and severity of issues, typically $10,000-$100,000 for full implementation. Ongoing maintenance adds $1,000-$5,000 monthly.
Conclusion
WCAG 2.2 represents the current state of web accessibility best practices. While achieving compliance requires investment, the benefits—legal protection, expanded audience, improved SEO, and better user experience—far outweigh the costs. Start by scanning your website with an accessibility checker, prioritize critical issues, and implement fixes systematically. Remember that accessibility is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Regular testing, user feedback, and continuous improvement ensure your website remains accessible as technologies and standards evolve.
Ready to get started? Test your website for free with our WCAG 2.2 compliance checker and receive a detailed report identifying accessibility barriers and remediation guidance.
