Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of technical standards developed to ensure digital content is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
These guidelines provide a framework for creating websites and web applications that can be navigated and understood by individuals with diverse abilities.
For example, WCAG includes recommendations for making web content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
This may involve providing text alternatives for non-text content such as images, ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers, organizing content in a logical and consistent manner, and designing interfaces that are accessible via keyboard navigation.
WCAG is structured into different levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Each level builds upon the previous one, with Level AAA representing the highest level of accessibility compliance.
Organizations are encouraged to strive for Level AA conformance, as it provides a good balance between usability and accessibility.
Adhering to WCAG guidelines is not only a legal requirement in many jurisdictions but also benefits businesses by expanding their reach to a broader audience and improving user experience for all visitors.
Failure to comply with accessibility standards can result in legal challenges, financial penalties, and reputational damage.
For instance, a company’s website that does not conform to WCAG may be inaccessible to individuals with visual impairments who rely on screen readers to navigate the web.
This could lead to discrimination lawsuits under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States or similar legislation in other countries.
