Accessibility Learning Center

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of international standards intended to inform the accessibility of digital properties (think websites, applications, and digital documents like PDFs). They provide recommendations for improving the usability of web pages for individuals who may have visual, auditory, physical, or cognitive impairments. By following WCAG, organizations can ensure that their online content is easier to navigate, read, and interact with for everyone, including those who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers.

WCAG has evolved through several versions to address new technologies and improve accessibility standards. The first version, WCAG 1.0, was published in 1999 and focused on basic web accessibility techniques. WCAG 2.0, released in 2008, introduced the POUR principles and provided more comprehensive guidelines applicable to a wider range of web content and technologies. WCAG 2.1, published in 2018, expanded on 2.0 by adding criteria for mobile accessibility and cognitive disabilities. Most recently, WCAG 2.2 was released in 2023, further refining requirements to address evolving user needs and digital platforms. Each version builds on the previous one, ensuring ongoing relevance and effectiveness in making digital content accessible for all.

WCAG is organized around four foundational principles known as POUR: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.

Perceivable: means that users must be able to perceive the information being presented, such as through text alternatives for images.
Operable: requires that users can interact with interface components, for example, via keyboard navigation.
Understandable: ensures that content and controls are clear and predictable.
Robust: means content must be compatible with current and future assistive technologies.
WCAG also defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.

Level A: represents the minimum accessibility requirements,
Level AA: is the recommended standard for most organizations, and
Level AAA: is the highest level, offering enhanced accessibility.
Websites and applications are typically expected to meet Level AA to ensure broad usability for people with disabilities.

WCAG has been widely adopted across various sectors. Government agencies in many countries require public websites and online services to comply with WCAG standards. In addition, businesses in the private sector, including financial institutions, e-commerce platforms, and educational organizations, frequently implement WCAG guidelines to mitigate legal risks and serve a diverse audience. Nonprofit organizations also leverage WCAG to make information and resources accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Globally, WCAG has influenced legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States and the European Accessibility Act (EAA) in the European Union, making it a cornerstone for web accessibility policies. As a result, the principles and levels of conformance outlined by WCAG are now integral to the design and development of websites and digital applications worldwide.

Manual audits provide a complete view of the failures to the guidelines. Good ones will also provide robust and actionable advice on remediating the failures, in addition to providing metrics to help prioritize the failures and create a successful plan for remediation.

Automated scanning can detect a subset of the issues. Typically, automation will uncover 30 to 40 percent of the failures to the WCAG’s Success Criteria. This can, in many cases, represent up to 70 percent of the failures on a site.

The W3C Accessibility Maturity Model (AMM) is a framework designed to help organizations evaluate and improve their accessibility practices over time. Moving from ad hoc, based approaches to accessibility to integrated processes builds efficiency and sustainability. The AMM framework provides reliable processes for maturing the ability to deliver and maintain accessible digital assets over time.

The framework includes a structured way to assess how well accessibility is integrated into an organization’s processes, culture, and leadership so that a baseline can be established and progress tracked.

The model breaks down accessibility into different areas, such as policy, technology, and training, and describes stages from basic awareness to full integration. By using the AMM, organizations can identify strengths and areas for growth, set goals, and track progress toward making their digital products and services more inclusive for everyone.

See The W3C Accessibility Maturity Model Explained blog post for greater detail.

The WCAG-EM, or Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology, is a framework designed to help organizations assess how well their websites meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). It provides a structured process for evaluating web accessibility:

1. Define the scope of the evaluation – defining what is included in the evaluation; the goal of the evaluation; and the WCAG conformance level (A, AA, AAA).
2. Explore the website – identifying key web pages; key functionality; types of web content, designs, functionality, etc.; required web technologies.
3. Select a representative sample – guidance on structured and randomly selected web pages when it is not feasible to evaluate every web page on a website.
4. Evaluate the selected sample – determining successes and failures in meeting WCAG; accessibility support for website features; and recording evaluation steps.
5. Report the evaluation findings – aggregating and reporting evaluation findings; making evaluation statements; and calculating overall scores.

WCAG-EM is widely used to ensure digital content is accessible to people with disabilities and to support compliance with accessibility standards.

Section 508 is a crucial provision of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that mandates federal agencies to ensure their electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. This requirement covers a wide range of digital content, including websites, documents, software applications, and multimedia. The goal of Section 508 is to guarantee that individuals with disabilities have equal access to information and services, removing barriers that might prevent their full participation in society. By establishing standards for accessibility, Section 508 promotes inclusive design and helps create a digital environment where everyone, regardless of ability, can benefit from federal resources and opportunities.

An important tool for demonstrating Section 508 compliance is the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). The VPAT is a standardized document completed by vendors to describe how their information and communication technology products meet Section 508 accessibility requirements. The completed VPAT is refered to as an Accessibility Conformance Report (ARC). It helps federal agencies evaluate, compare, and select products with the highest level of accessibility, ensuring technology purchases align with legal obligations and support an inclusive environment for all users. Well regarded ACRs are typically informed by a third-party accessibility audit.

A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a standardized template from the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) used to report the level of conformance to accessibility standards. It is typically used for digital products, such as software or a website. A completed VPAT is known as an Accessibility Conformance Report (ARC). These standards include Section 508 (U.S.), EN 301 549 (EU), and W3C/WAI WCAG. The VPAT provides detailed information on the product’s accessibility and areas where it may fall short, allowing organizations and buyers to make informed decisions about procurement and conformance. By completing a VPAT, vendors demonstrate their commitment to accessibility and transparency, supporting efforts to ensure digital inclusivity for all users. Well regarded ACRs are typically informed by a third-party accessibility audit.

There are five main types of VPAT:

• VPAT 2.4 Section 508: Focuses on conformance with Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act, which requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
• VPAT 2.4 WCAG: Addresses the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from the W3C, providing a framework for web and digital content accessibility that is recognized internationally.
• VPAT 2.4 EN 301 549: Covers the European Union’s accessibility standard for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products and services, aligning with the European Accessibility Act.
• VPAT 2.4 International: Combines requirements from Section 508, WCAG, and EN 301 549 to support global accessibility compliance for products marketed in multiple regions.
• VPAT 2.4 Revised 508: Reflects the updated Section 508 standards, harmonized with WCAG 2.0, to ensure accessibility for federal procurements in the United States.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive civil rights law that ensures individuals with disabilities have equal access and opportunities across various aspects of public life. Two key sections of the ADA—Title II and Title III—are particularly relevant to website accessibility.

Title II

Title II applies to state and local governments, requiring them to provide equal access to programs, services, and activities, which now explicitly includes digital offerings such as websites and web applications. Recent updates to Title II clarify that public entities must ensure their web content is accessible to people with disabilities, typically by conforming to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. This marks the first time the WCAG guidelines are mentioned in the ADA.  These changes further mark a significant step, as they directly address digital accessibility and set clear benchmarks for compliance.

• Title II services
• The ADA Title II Countdown: Is Your Agency Ready for the 2026 Compliance Deadline?
• How to Take Advantage of the Title II Extension

Title III

Title III, on the other hand, covers places of public accommodation—such as businesses, nonprofits, and service providers open to the public—and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Courts and the Department of Justice have interpreted Title III to require that websites and online services provided by these organizations be accessible. This means that businesses must remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing digital content, offering features like screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and appropriate color contrast.

Together, Titles II and III establish a legal foundation for website accessibility, promoting inclusivity and reducing the risk of legal action for noncompliance.

Title III Services – Demand Letter Help

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) was adopted by the European Union in 2019 to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. EU countries must bring the EAA into national law by June 28, 2022, and fully implement its requirements by June 28, 2025.

The EAA requires that products and services such as computers, smartphones, e-books, websites, banking services, and public transport ticketing machines be accessible to people with disabilities. Each country in the EU is responsible for creating and enforcing laws that ensure businesses follow these accessibility standards. This means they must monitor compliance, provide guidance to companies, and offer ways for individuals to report problems or file complaints when accessibility is not met. By taking these steps, EU countries help build a more inclusive society for everyone.

EN 301 549 is a European standard that sets out the requirements for making information and communication technology (ICT) products and services accessible to people with disabilities. It covers websites, software, hardware, and electronic devices to ensure that everyone can use these technologies easily. EN 301 549 draws much of its content from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide detailed instructions for making digital content more accessible. In fact, EN 301 549 often refers to WCAG standards as the benchmarks for web accessibility.

While EN 301 549 adopts WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA as its baseline, it adds extra requirements around:

• Documentation & Support
  • Websites must be accompanied by accessible documentation (user guides, help content).
  • Customer support channels (chat, phone, email) must also be accessible.
• Interoperability
  • Web content must work with assistive technologies (screen readers, voice input, magnifiers)
    • WCAG implies this, but EN 301 549 makes it explicit and testable.
• Non-Web ICT Integration
  • If a website is part of a larger ICT product/service (e.g., banking platform, e-commerce system), accessibility must extend to transaction flows, authentication, and multimedia players.

This standard is closely linked to the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The EAA requires companies to make many products and services—like computers, smartphones, e-books, websites, and banking services—accessible to people with disabilities. EN 301 549 provides the technical details and practical criteria that organizations must follow to meet the accessibility goals set out in the EAA. Together, EN 301 549, WCAG, and the EAA work to promote equal access and inclusivity across Europe.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a law in Ontario, Canada that aims to make the province fully accessible for people with disabilities. It sets out rules and standards for businesses, organizations, and public spaces to ensure everyone can participate equally, whether online or in person. The goal is to remove barriers in areas like transportation, employment, customer service, and information so that Ontario becomes more inclusive for all residents.

PDF/UA is a specialized type of PDF format developed to make digital documents accessible to users with disabilities. The “UA” stands for “Accessible Universal,” indicating the document’s commitment to universal usability. This format was created under the guidance of the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), which oversees standards for document accessibility, including the PDF/UA specifications. Through collaboration with accessibility experts, advocacy groups, and technology organizations, the ISO ensures that PDF/UA incorporates the latest best practices for digital inclusion.

PDF/UA follows strict accessibility standards, such as including readable text, properly tagged images, and logical navigation structures, so that assistive technologies like screen readers, braille devices, and voice recognition software can interpret the content with ease. The standards set forth by the ISO help maintain global consistency and ensure that documents produced in PDF/UA can be accessed reliably by people around the world.

Key features of PDF/UA documents include the use of alternative text descriptions for images, clearly marked headings and lists, and the integration of metadata that helps both users and assistive tools understand the document’s organization. By adhering to these features, PDF/UA documents enable people with visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments to access and interact with information without barriers.

Organizations that use the PDF/UA format fulfill important legal and ethical obligations, ensuring their digital materials comply with accessibility regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Ultimately, PDF/UA helps promote digital inclusion, giving everyone equal access to vital resources and information, regardless of their abilities.