A Practical Guide to Web Accessibility with WCAG 2.1

Introduction?

Ensuring your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is both a legal requirement and a moral imperative. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 provide a framework for improving web accessibility. Here's how organizations can measure and achieve compliance with WCAG 2.1 A & AA standards.

The Structure of WCAG 2.1 and Its Principles

WCAG 2.1 is based on four core principles:

1. Perceivable: Information must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive (e.g., text alternatives for non-text content).
2. Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable (e.g., keyboard accessibility).
3. Understandable: Information and user interface operation must be understandable (e.g., readable text).
4. Robust: Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by various user agents, including assistive technologies.

Examples of Success Criteria

• Text Alternatives (1.1.1): Provide text alternatives for non-text content.
• Time-based Media (1.2.2): Provide captions for pre-recorded audio content.
• Contrast (Minimum) (1.4.3): Ensure text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
• Keyboard Accessible (2.1.1): Make all functionality available from a keyboard.
• Navigable (2.4.5): Help users navigate and find content.

Easy First Steps Towards Becoming Accessible

1. Conduct an Accessibility Audit: Use tools(Axe toolkit) for automated checks and manual testing with assistive technologies.?
2. Implement Quick Wins: Add alt text to images, ensure keyboard navigability, and fix contrast issues.
3. Educate Your Team: Train design, development, and content teams on WCAG 2.1 guidelines with Deque’s training program.
4. Empower Your Development Team: Empower the dev team with the role-based trainings, and leveraging tools to automate and ease their work, like Axe Dev tools.

Why Interpretation Differences Exist

• Complexity of Real-World Applications: Flexibility in guidelines can lead to varying interpretations.
• Evolving Technology: New technologies create new accessibility challenges.
• Subjectivity: Criteria like "sufficient" contrast can be subjective.
• Cultural and Contextual Differences: Different user groups and contexts prioritize different accessibility aspects.

Conclusion

Adhering to WCAG 2.1 A & AA standards is crucial for making your website accessible. By understanding WCAG principles, recognizing key success criteria, taking practical steps, and acknowledging interpretation differences, organizations can create inclusive digital experiences that comply with legal standards and reflect a commitment to inclusivity.