With growing global regulations and legal demands, digital accessibility remains a critical factor in ensuring that all users, including those with disabilities, can access and engage with your brand’s digital footprint.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have long served as the global benchmark for digital accessibility. Yet, one of the most common questions I hear day in and day out from prospective clients looking to kick off a roadmap to digital accessibility conformance is, “What standard should we comply with?
Can we just be A compliant to start?” – so let’s break down those questions!
With the release of WCAG 2.2 in October of 2023, organizations must understand the nuances between WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 and why aiming for WCAG 2.2 AA conformance is the most robust strategy for futureproofing your digital properties.
In this article, I will discuss the specifics of WCAG conformance levels, dispel common misconceptions, and explain why WCAG 2.2 AA should be the target for your web and mobile accessibility initiatives.
Understanding WCAG Conformance Levels: 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2
WCAG 2.0, released in 2008, laid the foundation for digital accessibility. It was the first comprehensive set of guidelines and also busted the most common myth that web accessibility guidelines are “new.” WCAG 2.1, released in 2018, built upon this foundation, introducing new success criteria that addressed the evolving needs of users with disabilities, particularly in mobile and touch-based environments. WCAG 2.2 takes this a step further, adding more success criteria that enhance accessibility for people with cognitive and learning disabilities, among others.
Key Differences and Additions in WCAG 2.2:
- Focus on Cognitive Accessibility: WCAG 2.2 introduces new success criteria aimed at improving the web experience for users with cognitive and learning disabilities. For example, Success Criterion 2.4.11 (Focus Appearance) and 3.3.7 (Redundant Entry) are designed to make web navigation and form filling easier and more intuitive.
- Enhanced Mobile Accessibility: Building on WCAG 2.1’s emphasis on mobile, WCAG 2.2 adds further requirements that ensure better usability on touch devices, such as Success Criterion 2.5.7 (Dragging Movements).
- WCAG 2.2 Webinar: For a full and thorough breakdown of WCAG 2.2, check a full and thorough breakdown of this topic!
Why aim for WCAG 2.2 Conformance?
WCAG 2.2 represents the most current iteration of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, reflecting the latest insights into user needs and the evolving landscape of technology. As digital environments continue to advance, so must the standards governing accessibility. WCAG 2.2 is not just an incremental update but a significant enhancement designed to ensure that web content remains accessible to the broadest possible audience, including those with cognitive, learning, and physical disabilities.
Addressing the Latest User Needs
The primary goal of WCAG 2.2 is to close existing gaps in accessibility, particularly for users who were not fully addressed by earlier versions. While WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 laid a solid foundation, WCAG 2.2 introduces new success criteria specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with cognitive and learning disabilities, as well as those who rely on touch and mobile devices.
Keeping Pace with Technological Developments
The digital world is rapidly evolving, with new technologies and design practices emerging regularly. WCAG 2.2 is designed to keep pace with these changes, ensuring that accessibility standards remain relevant and effective in the face of technological advancement.
Futureproofing Your Accessibility Efforts:
- Responsive Design: As websites and applications increasingly adopt responsive design principles to accommodate various screen sizes and devices, WCAG 2.2 includes criteria that ensure these designs remain accessible. For example, the new guidelines address the needs of users interacting with content on small screens or using touch inputs, ensuring that modern design trends do not compromise accessibility.
- Emerging Technologies: WCAG 2.2 also considers the accessibility implications of emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). While these technologies are still developing, the principles outlined in WCAG 2.2 can be applied to ensure these new digital environments are accessible from the outset.
Adapting to User Behavior:
- Increased Mobile Usage: With the growing reliance on mobile devices for accessing web content, WCAG 2.2 emphasizes mobile accessibility, ensuring that users with disabilities can effectively interact with content on smartphones and tablets. This includes considerations for touch targets, gesture navigation, and content layout on smaller screens.
- Personalization and AI: As digital experiences become more personalized through the use of AI and machine learning, WCAG 2.2 provides a framework for ensuring that they remain accessible. For example, criteria that ensure consistent and predictable navigation are essential as websites and applications become more dynamic and personalized.
The Myth of WCAG A Conformance: Why It’s Not Enough
While WCAG A conformance addresses some fundamental accessibility barriers, it fails to ensure a fully accessible and user-friendly experience for all individuals. This is particularly true for individuals with specific disabilities, which is the overarching goal within the depth of the WCAG success criteria.
WCAG AA conformance builds on A by adding more stringent requirements that enhance usability and accessibility across a wider range of scenarios. Here are some concrete examples that highlight the difference between A and AA conformance and also help explain why aiming for just A conformance should not even be within your team’s consideration:
Color Contrast (1.4.3)
- WCAG A: At the A level, WCAG requires a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1 for text or images of text against their background for large-scale text (18pt or 14pt bold) and graphical elements. However, this ratio may still pose challenges for users with low vision, especially in cases where smaller text or complex backgrounds are involved.
- WCAG AA: AA conformance raises the minimum contrast ratio requirement to 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large-scale text. This higher contrast ratio significantly improves readability for users with visual impairments, particularly those with conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration. For example, text on a light grey background might be readable to some users at A conformance, but increasing the contrast as required by AA ensures that more users can distinguish the text clearly, even under poor lighting conditions or on low-quality screens.
Focus Visible (2.4.7):
- WCAG A: A conformance does not mandate visible focus indicators, which can result in users who rely on keyboard navigation (such as those with motor impairments) being unable to discern which element is currently focused. This omission can cause confusion, as users may lose track of their place within a page, leading to frustration and reduced usability.
- WCAG AA: AA conformance ensures that focus indicators are clearly visible when navigating through a webpage using the keyboard. For example, when a user tabs through a form, AA conformance would require that each form field’s border or background color changes distinctly, making it immediately obvious which field is active. This not only helps users with motor disabilities but also benefits users with cognitive disabilities, who may rely on clear visual cues to understand where they are within a page. This is also a prime example of why teams should view A and AA conformance as a single, unified standard. Without complying to WCAG 2.4.7, you’re team can leave a wide array of users with disabilities with little to no access to your website.
The Challenges of WCAG AAA Conformance: Why It’s Often Unrealistic
While WCAG AAA conformance represents the highest level of accessibility, it is rarely the target for organizations due to the stringent and often impractical nature of its success criteria.
Technical Specifics:
- Success Criterion 1.2.9 (Audio Description (Extended)): Requires extended audio descriptions for all prerecorded video content. While this enhances accessibility for users who are blind, it can be challenging to implement across all content due to the significant time and resource investment required.
- Success Criterion 1.4.8 (Visual Presentation): Demands more advanced control over the visual presentation of text, such as line spacing and justification, which can be difficult to achieve consistently across all devices and platforms.
Why AAA is Not the Legal Requirement
At the time of writing, global regulations do not currently mandate AAA conformance, nor do any legal settlements. However, most legal standards, such as the recently formalized DOJ (Title II) and HHS accessibility regulations in the US or EN 301 549 under the European Accessibility Act, require AA conformance. AAA conformance is considered aspirational rather than a practical legal requirement for almost all organizations.
Why WCAG 2.2 AA Should Be Your Target
Given the limitations of A conformance and the impracticality of AAA as defined in detail above, WCAG 2.2 AA conformance represents the ideal balance. It addresses the most critical accessibility and usability barriers while remaining both highly achievable and sustainable. For organizations looking to create inclusive digital experiences, WCAG 2.2 AA is the standard that ensures a comprehensive and lasting impact.
Legal Standards and Maximizing Your Accessibility Investment
Current Legal Requirements
Many existing regulations, such as the DOJ’s Title II and HHS regulations in the US, as well as EN 301 549, which sets the standards for compliance with the European Accessibility Act and was recently adopted as the standard in Canada, currently point to WCAG 2.1 AA conformance as the legal standard.
However, aiming for, or at minimum testing against, WCAG 2.2 AA conformance offers a strategic advantage. As accessibility standards evolve, legal requirements will likely eventually incorporate or reference WCAG 2.2, just as they previously shifted from WCAG 2.0 to 2.1.
By aligning with WCAG 2.2 now, organizations can stay ahead of regulatory changes, ensuring that their digital properties remain compliant as the legal landscape evolves. This proactive approach not only helps to mitigate future legal risks but also demonstrates a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.
Maximizing Return on Investment
Auditing and building to WCAG 2.2 AA conformance ensures that your digital properties are equipped to handle both current and future accessibility needs. This strategy provides a full return on investment by incorporating the most up-to-date accessibility feedback from the outset. Here’s why:
- Alignment with Future Roadmaps: By conforming to WCAG 2.2 AA, your organization ensures that any future updates or enhancements to your web and mobile platforms will be built on a foundation that already meets the highest current accessibility standards. This reduces the need for costly rework or additional audits as accessibility requirements evolve, allowing your team to focus on innovation rather than retrofitting accessibility into existing structures.
- Proactive Compliance: Should WCAG 2.2 become the legally mandated standard or an internal roadmap goal, having already conformed to WCAG 2.2 AA ensures that your organization is not caught off guard. Instead, you’re prepared to adapt to new requirements without significant disruptions to your development pipeline or additional expenses. This is particularly important as digital platforms become more dynamic, with continuous updates and new features that must be accessible from day one. Additionally, as outlined above, WCAG 2.2 aims to provide more robust usability in a mobile-first environment, a key focus for many organizations.
- Empowering Development Teams: When your organization commits to WCAG 2.2 AA, it empowers your development and design teams to build with a clear understanding of the latest accessibility standards—even if you only remediate your existing digital properties to WCAG 2.1 AA out of the gate. This awareness fosters a culture of accessibility, where teams continually consider maintaining and enhancing accessibility as they create new content, features, or products. This ongoing commitment to accessibility ensures that your digital properties remain usable and inclusive as they grow and evolve.
- Enhanced User Experience: By aiming for WCAG 2.2 AA, you’re not just meeting a legal standard—you’re creating a better experience for all users. The enhancements in WCAG 2.2, such as improved focus indicators, better color contrast, and easier navigation for users with cognitive disabilities, contribute to a more inclusive and user-friendly experience. This can increase user satisfaction, engagement, and, ultimately, better business outcomes.
Ultimately, WCAG 2.2 AA conformance represents a smart investment in the long-term accessibility and usability of your digital properties. By adopting these standards now, your organization is not only meeting the most up-to-date accessibility guidelines but also ensuring that your digital properties are ready for whatever the future holds. This approach maximizes your return on your accessibility investment by reducing future costs and enhancing the overall user experience.
Allyant’s Approach: WCAG 2.2 AA is our Client Commitment
At Allyant, we recognize the importance of aligning with the most up-to-date standards. That’s why all our live-user audits of websites, software, or mobile applications, as well as QA assessments and monitoring re-assessments, are conducted to WCAG 2.2 AA. This commitment extends to our PDF remediation services, ensuring all digital documents conform to the latest accessibility standards.
Why Choose Allyant for your Path to WCAG 2.2 AA Conformance?
- Comprehensive Filtering Capabilities: Our HUB platform allows organizations to filter all testing results by relevant standards, such as WCAG 2.1 AA, while mapping out a roadmap to achieve WCAG 2.2 AA. This flexibility ensures that your accessibility efforts align with current legal requirements and future goals specific to your organization. For example, you may be a healthcare organization that needs to ensure compliance with the new HHS regulations in less than 2 years. These regulations require WCAG 2.1 AA conformance, but should other regulations or legal requirements point to WCAG 2.2 success criteria, or you simply want to provide a more usable and accessible experience to all, your team will have those issues at the ready anytime!
- Live-User Testing: All our assessments include live-user testing by people with disabilities, ensuring that real-world accessibility and usability issues are identified and addressed. This approach is crucial as we now see lawsuits and demand letters referencing WCAG 2.2, highlighting the need for thorough, up-to-date audits.
Conclusion: Aim High, Protect Your Investment, and Stay Ahead
Every organization’s accessibility strategy should aim for WCAG 2.2 AA conformance. This standard offers the most comprehensive protection against legal risks and ensures that your digital properties are accessible to all users. With Allyant’s expertise and tools, achieving and maintaining WCAG 2.2 AA conformance is feasible and a wise investment in your organization’s future.
For more information on how Allyant can help you achieve WCAG 2.2 AA conformance, explore our robust services and learn more about our industry-first Accessibility Claims Team that drives further investment protection for your accessibility budget.
