Accessibility (WCAG)

Definition

Accessibility in web and digital design refers to making content usable for people of all abilities, including those with disabilities. WCAG, which stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, is the international standard that defines how websites and digital products should be designed to ensure accessibility.

WCAG provides recommendations for text alternatives, adaptable layouts, readable content, clear navigation, and support for assistive technologies such as screen readers. Its goal is to remove barriers so that everyone can access, understand, and interact with online information effectively.

Advanced

At an advanced level, WCAG compliance involves meeting specific criteria across four main principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (often called POUR). Each principle contains success criteria categorized into three levels of conformance: A (minimum), AA (recommended), and AAA (highest).

Developers and designers apply semantic HTML, ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation support, proper color contrast ratios, and captioning for media to meet WCAG standards. Automated testing tools and manual audits are often combined to validate compliance.

Why it matters

• Ensures equal access for users with disabilities.
• Meets legal and regulatory requirements in many regions.
• Improves overall usability for all users, not just those with impairments.
• Protects organisations from legal and reputational risks.

Use cases

• Designing websites that work with screen readers.
• Creating online forms that can be completed using only a keyboard.
• Providing video captions and transcripts for multimedia content.
• Applying colour contrast standards for text and backgrounds.

Metrics

• WCAG compliance level (A, AA, AAA).
• Accessibility audit scores from tools like WAVE or Axe.
• User testing feedback from people with disabilities.
• Reduction in reported accessibility issues.

Issues

• Non-compliance can result in legal action or fines.
• Poor accessibility reduces reach and customer engagement.
• Inaccessible design harms brand reputation and trust.
• Retroactive fixes are often more costly than proactive compliance.

Example

A university updates its website to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Improvements include higher text contrast, keyboard-accessible navigation, alt text for all images, and transcripts for lecture videos. The update not only meets legal requirements but also improves usability for mobile users and older visitors.