Informative and Normative in WCAG Guidelines

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a framework for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. Within WCAG, techniques are categorized as either informative or normative.

Informative Techniques ??

These are suggestions or recommendations that can help improve accessibility but are not strictly required. They provide practical guidance on how to implement accessibility.

Example?

Using semantic HTML: While not strictly required, using semantic HTML elements (like <h1>, <p>, <nav>) can improve the structure and accessibility of a webpage. Screen readers can interpret these elements more effectively, making the content easier to understand for users with visual impairments.

Normative Techniques ??

These are specific methods or procedures that, when implemented correctly, guarantee compliance with WCAG success criteria. They are mandatory for achieving accessibility.??

Example?

Providing alternative text for images: This is a normative technique. Alternative text describes the content of an image for users who cannot see it, such as screen reader users. It's essential to ensure that all users can understand the information conveyed by the image.??

Why the Distinction Matters for Accessibility Testing??

Understanding the difference between informative and normative techniques is crucial for effective accessibility testing. Here's why:??

Prioritizing Normative Techniques??

Direct Impact on Compliance: Normative techniques are directly tied to WCAG success criteria. Therefore, they should be prioritized during testing to ensure compliance.??

Identifying Critical Issues: Focusing on normative techniques helps identify the most critical accessibility issues that need to be addressed.??

Comprehensive Testing: Covering Both

While normative techniques are crucial, it's equally important to consider informative techniques.??

• Enhancing Accessibility: Informative techniques, although not mandatory, can significantly enhance the accessibility of a website.??

• Best Practices: Following informative techniques often aligns with best practices in web development and accessibility.

Effective Reporting ??

Clear and concise reporting is essential for effective accessibility testing.??

• Differentiating Issues: Test reports should differentiate between issues related to normative and informative techniques.??

• Prioritizing Recommendations: Recommendations for fixing issues related to normative techniques should be prioritized.??

Example of a Detailed Test Report

A comprehensive accessibility test report might include the following:

Normative Technique Violations

• Missing Alternative Text: Images on the homepage and product pages lack alternative text, making them inaccessible to screen reader users.??

• Insufficient Color Contrast: Several text elements have insufficient color contrast, making them difficult to read for users with visual impairments.

Informative Technique Recommendations

• Semantic HTML: While the website uses HTML, it could benefit from more semantic markup to improve accessibility for screen reader users.??

• Keyboard Navigation: Implementing keyboard navigation would make the website more accessible to users who cannot use a mouse.?

Conclusion

By understanding the nuances between informative and normative techniques, organizations can conduct more effective accessibility testing . This leads to more accessible websites that benefit all users, regardless of their abilities.