Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

12 December 2023

techtipsall.com

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines( WCAG) are a set of norms developed by the World Wide Web Consortium( W3C) to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. 

These guidelines help insure that websites, apps, and digital content are usable by people with colorful impairments, including visual, audile, cognitive, and motor disabilities.

WCAG Principles (POUR)

Four fundamental ideas form the foundation of WCAG:

Perceivable – The user interface and information must be displayed in a way that is easy for users to understand.

For non-textual content, provide text alternatives (alt text for images, for example).

• For audio and video content, provide transcripts and captions.
• Make sure the content can be adapted to various display formats.

Operable – The navigation and user interface elements need to be functional.

• Provide keyboard access to all features.
• Give users enough time to read and engage with the content.
• Steer clear of anything that could trigger seizures, like flashing pictures.

Understandable – The interface’s functionality and information must be clear.

• Make use of plain language.
• Offer input support, such as suggestions and error identification.
• Make sure the navigation is steady and predictable.

Robust –Content needs to be sufficiently resilient to be interpreted by assistive technologies and various devices.

• Make use of ARIA attributes and clean, standards-compliant HTML.
•  Make sure the content is compatible with assistive devices such as screen readers.

WCAG Versions & Levels

WCAG has changed over the years:

(2008) WCAG 2.0: The first stable version.

• WCAG 2.1 (2018) – Enhancements for low vision users, cognitive impairments,
• WCAG 2.1 (2018) – and mobile accessibility are included in WCAG 2.1 (2018).
• WCAG 2.2 (Expected 2024)– Additional improvements are introduced in WCAG 2.2 (anticipated in 2024).

Three levels of conformance are included in each version:

• Level A – Essential specifications (fundamental accessibility).
• Level AA –For the majority of websites, Level AA is advised (strong accessibility).
• Level AAA –The highest level, AAA, is ideal but not always feasible.

Why WCAG Matters

• enhances everyone’s experience using it.
• assists companies in adhering to legal requirements (such as the ADA, Section 508, and EN 301 549).
• reaches a wider audience, including people with disabilities.
• improves the usability and SEO of websites.