Accessibility

Accessibility Quick Tip: WCAG 2.1 in a Nutshell

“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” – Tim Berners-Lee

By Regan Harper: Published on
Accessibility

WCAG 2.1, or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, is a set of internationally recognized standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to make digital content accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines focus on four key principles, often abbreviated as POUR:

  • Perceivable: Information and user Interface (UI) components must be presented in ways users can perceive. This includes text alternatives for non-text content, captions for videos, sufficient color contrast, and making content adaptable.
  • Operable: Navigation and functionality should be usable by everyone, including those who rely on keyboards. This includes providing keyboard accessibility, giving enough time for interactions, and ensuring clear navigation.
  • Understandable: Content and operation should be clear and intuitive, which includes readable text, predictable page behavior, and providing guidance to avoid errors in forms and other interactions.
  • Robust: Content must be compatible with current and future tools, including assistive technologies like screen readers. This is achieved through standards-compliant HTML and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes for better adaptability.

WCAG 2.1 has three levels of compliance: A (basic), AA (recommended standard), and AAA (highest). Level AA compliance is often the goal for most organizations, as it ensures a good balance between accessibility and effort.

These guidelines help ensure a more inclusive digital environment for users with disabilities, addressing visual, auditory, cognitive, and physical challenges in the digital space.

WCAG 2.1 builds upon WCAG 2.0 by introducing additional guidelines to support users with cognitive, language, and learning disabilities as well as mobile device accessibility. Key updates in WCAG 2.1 include:

  • Improved support for mobile: Many users with disabilities rely on mobile devices, so WCAG 2.1 addresses features like responsive design, orientation (ensuring content works in both portrait and landscape), and gestures (supporting swipes, pinches, and taps).
  • Better cognitive accessibility: Updates help users with cognitive and learning disabilities by promoting clarity in navigation and interaction. This includes guidelines like consistent identification (ensuring that similar items are labeled consistently) and input assistance (helping users avoid and correct errors).
  • Enhanced visuals and contrast: WCAG 2.1 emphasizes visual accessibility by introducing minimum contrast requirements for graphics, and improving text readability, especially on low-contrast screens or for users with low vision.

To meet WCAG 2.1 standards, content creators, designers, and developers should implement practices across these key updates to ensure that websites, apps, and digital content are as inclusive as possible. Complying with WCAG 2.1 also helps organizations meet various legal accessibility requirements in different regions, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S., and HB21-1110 here in Colorado.

In essence, WCAG 2.1 offers a roadmap to creating accessible digital environments that help everyone, regardless of ability, navigate, understand, and interact with online content.

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Regan Harper
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