WCAG 2.1 AA
WCAG 2.1 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA are a set of standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to ensure that digital content is accessible to people with disabilities. WCAG 2.1 builds upon its predecessor, WCAG 2.0, by introducing additional success criteria to address emerging technologies and user needs.
Here's what WCAG 2.1 AA entails:
Accessibility Standards: WCAG 2.1 AA provides a comprehensive set of guidelines and success criteria for making web content more accessible. These standards cover various aspects of accessibility, including content, design, and functionality.
Level AA Conformance: The “AA” level conformance indicates that a website or digital content meets the mid-range level of accessibility standards. This level of conformance ensures a higher degree of accessibility than Level A, addressing a broader range of accessibility issues.
Enhanced Accessibility Criteria: WCAG 2.1 introduces 17 new success criteria in addition to those outlined in WCAG 2.0. These new criteria address emerging technologies, mobile accessibility, and the needs of users with disabilities more comprehensively.
Mobile Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 includes new success criteria specifically aimed at improving the accessibility of web content on mobile devices. This ensures that websites and applications are usable and accessible on various mobile platforms.
Improved Keyboard Navigation: WCAG 2.1 introduces new success criteria to enhance keyboard accessibility, ensuring that all functionality of a website or application can be operated using a keyboard alone. This benefits users who cannot use a mouse or other pointing device.
Text Resizing and Zooming: WCAG 2.1 includes requirements related to text resizing and zooming, ensuring that users can adjust the size of text on a website or application without losing content or functionality. This is particularly important for users with low vision.
Clarification and Expansion: WCAG 2.1 clarifies and expands upon existing success criteria from WCAG 2.0 to provide additional guidance and support for developers and content creators.
WCAG 2.1 AA is widely recognized as the standard for web accessibility, and compliance with these guidelines ensures that digital content is accessible to a broad range of users, including those with disabilities. Adhering to WCAG 2.1 AA helps organizations create more inclusive and user-friendly web experiences for all users.
