The basics of web accessibility
- WCAG is the acronym for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
- These guidelines were developed to ensure that digital content is accessible to people with different disabilities.
- The WCAG were developed by the World Wide Web Consortium ( W3C ) and are an important tool for promoting accessibility on the internet.
- Currently, WCAG 2.1 applies, while WCAG 2.2 has already been published (in October 2023).
Levels of conformity
Section titled “Levels of conformity”- Level A: Basic requirements for accessibility.
- Level AA: Extended accessibility requirements.
- Level AAA: Highest accessibility requirements.
WCAG principles
Section titled “WCAG principles”- Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable.
- Understandable: Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable.
- Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
Legal regulations
Section titled “Legal regulations”- In many countries, legal regulations and standards for accessibility on the Internet are based on the WCAG.
- In Germany, the Disability Equality Act (BGG) and the Accessible Information Technology Ordinance (BITV) regulate accessibility on the Internet.
European Accessibility Act (EAA)
Section titled “European Accessibility Act (EAA)”- The European Accessibility Act (EAA) of the European Union aims to make products and services accessible to people with disabilities.
- EAA sets the minimum standards to remove barriers in access to different areas of life.