What is WCAG?
TL;DR
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the international standard for web Accessibility. WCAG levels are A (minimum), AA (standard for most legal compliance), and AAA (highest). Common requirements include text alternatives for images, keyboard navigation, and readable content. Many lawsuits cite WCAG violations.
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Frequently Asked Questions About WCAG
What WCAG level should my website target?
Most businesses should target WCAG 2.1 Level AA, it's the standard for legal compliance and reasonable to achieve. Level A is bare minimum (not recommended as a goal). Level AAA is often impractical for typical business sites.
What does WCAG compliance require?
Key requirements include: alt text for images, sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 for text), keyboard-navigable interfaces, form labels, video captions, consistent navigation, and meaningful link text. The full guidelines are extensive but these cover common issues.
Is my website legally required to meet WCAG?
Legally required for government sites, increasingly expected for businesses. ADA lawsuits typically reference WCAG as the standard even though it's not explicitly named in US law. Meeting WCAG AA significantly reduces legal risk.
How do I make my website WCAG compliant?
Start with an automated scan (WAVE, axe) to find obvious issues. Fix alt text, color contrast, and form labels. Ensure keyboard navigation works. Then conduct manual testing. For full compliance, hire an accessibility specialist for a formal audit.
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