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Standards and Compliance
Digital accessibility is increasingly required by law. We help you understand which standards and regulations apply to your organization and map a practical path forward.
Talk Through Your RequirementsWCAG 2.2 Conformance Levels
WCAG organizes success criteria into three levels. Most teams aim at Level AA first, but understanding all three helps you set the right goals for your organization.
Foundational
The baseline of web accessibility. Level A addresses the most critical barriers that prevent users with disabilities from accessing content at all. Without Level A conformance, entire groups of users may be completely locked out.
Key Requirements
Standard Compliance
RecommendedThe recommended conformance level for most organizations, and the standard referenced by most accessibility laws. Level AA addresses significant barriers that make content difficult to use. This is the target for ADA, AODA, and Section 508 compliance.
Key Requirements
Advanced Accessibility
The highest level of accessibility conformance. Level AAA addresses barriers for users with the most significant disabilities. While full AAA conformance across an entire site is rarely feasible, targeting AAA for critical user journeys demonstrates exceptional commitment.
Key Requirements
The Four Principles
Every WCAG guideline maps to one of four principles. Understanding these principles helps your team make better accessibility decisions, even without memorizing every success criterion.
Perceivable
Content must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This means providing text alternatives for images, captions and transcripts for multimedia, and ensuring content adapts to different devices and assistive technologies without losing meaning.
Operable
All functionality must be operable through a keyboard and other input methods. Users need sufficient time to read and interact with content, and navigation must be consistent and predictable. Content must not cause seizures or physical reactions.
Understandable
Content must be readable and understandable to the broadest possible audience. This includes clear language, consistent navigation patterns, and helpful error messages that guide users toward successful completion of their tasks.
Robust
Content must be robust enough to work reliably with current and future assistive technologies. This requires clean semantic HTML, proper use of ARIA attributes, and adherence to web standards so assistive technologies can accurately interpret content.
Legal Landscape
Accessibility requirements are expanding globally. Here are the key regulations affecting organizations in North America and beyond.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
United States
Title III of the ADA requires businesses open to the public to provide accessible goods and services, which courts have consistently interpreted to include websites and mobile apps. The DOJ has formally recognized WCAG 2.1 AA as the standard for ADA web compliance.
Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and AODA
Canada
The federal Accessible Canada Act (2019) requires barrier-free digital services for federally regulated organizations. Ontario's AODA requires WCAG 2.0 AA compliance for all public-facing websites. Other provinces have adopted or are developing similar legislation.
Section 508 (Rehabilitation Act)
United States (Federal)
Section 508 requires US federal agencies to ensure their electronic and information technology is accessible. Revised standards align with WCAG 2.0 AA and apply to all federal ICT, including procurement requirements for vendors.
European Accessibility Act (EAA)
European Union
The EAA requires accessibility of websites, mobile apps, e-commerce, banking services, and other digital products for organizations operating in the EU. It references the EN 301 549 standard, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA.
Beyond Compliance
Accessibility is not just about avoiding lawsuits. It is a strategic investment that drives measurable business value across multiple dimensions.
Legal Compliance and Risk Reduction
Proactively addressing accessibility reduces litigation risk, avoids costly settlements, and ensures compliance with ADA, AODA, Section 508, and EAA requirements.
Enhanced User Experience
Accessibility improvements benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. Clearer navigation, better content structure, and predictable interactions create a superior experience for everyone.
Market Expansion and Revenue
Over 1.3 billion people worldwide experience significant disability (WHO). Accessible digital products open your content to this underserved market and improve conversion rates across all audiences.
Organizational Excellence
A commitment to accessibility signals organizational maturity, attracts diverse talent, and aligns with ESG and DEI initiatives increasingly valued by investors and customers.
How We Help
We help you navigate the complex landscape of accessibility standards and regulations. Whether you need a quick baseline review or a longer-term roadmap, we tailor our approach to your situation.
Assess
We review your current state against applicable standards.
Plan
We create a prioritized roadmap with practical milestones.
Execute
We work alongside your team to fix issues and build habits.