Website accessibility is not just about compliance. It is about ensuring everyone can use your website, including the 61 million Americans with disabilities. Beyond being the right thing to do, accessibility is increasingly a legal requirement.
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are international standards for web accessibility. The current standard is WCAG 2.1, with WCAG 2.2 becoming more common. Compliance levels include A, AA (most commonly required), and AAA.
The Four Principles
WCAG is built on four principles (POUR):
1. Perceivable
Information must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive:
- Alternative text for images
- Captions for videos
- Sufficient color contrast
- Resizable text
2. Operable
Users must be able to operate the interface:
- Keyboard navigation
- Sufficient time to read content
- No seizure-inducing content
- Clear navigation
3. Understandable
Content must be understandable:
- Readable text
- Predictable functionality
- Input assistance
4. Robust
Content must work with assistive technologies:
- Valid HTML
- Proper ARIA labels
- Screen reader compatibility
Legal Requirements
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) increasingly applies to websites. Lawsuits over inaccessible websites have increased dramatically. Compliance protects your business from legal risk.
Business Benefits
Beyond legal compliance, accessibility:
- Expands your potential audience
- Improves SEO (overlapping best practices)
- Enhances user experience for everyone
- Demonstrates social responsibility
Get Compliant
AppWT builds all websites with WCAG compliance in mind. We can also audit and remediate existing sites. Contact us for an accessibility assessment.
For a new build, see the web design services page. If your current site needs accessibility fixes, the website redesign services page explains that work.
To ask about an accessibility assessment, reach AppWT here. The first consultation is free.
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