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2. Standards and Technical Guidance - What "WCAG 2.1 AA" actually means

Rather than defining accessibility requirements independently, laws and regulations rely on established technical standards. The authoritative source for these standards is the W3C.

Core Standard - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

WCAG defines how to make digital content more accessible to people with disabilities.

Review the WCAG overview

Read the WCAG 2.2 recommendation

These guidelines are not static - they evolve over time to reflect changes in technology, user needs, and best practices. As a result, WCAG published in versions, with each new version building on the previous one by adding or refining success criteria. This means organizations should pay attention not just to "WCAG compliant", but to which version and level they are aligning with, as expectations continue to advance. 

Important context:

  • The DOJ rule references WCAG 2.1 Level AA
  • W3C recommends using the most current version where feasible
  • WCAG is organized around four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust

Supporting Guidance

Review WCAG Fundamentals

Learn how to evaluate web accessibility

These resources are especially useful for developers, designers, content creators, and quality assurance or testing teams.

Key takeaway: WCAG is the technical standard that organizations build and test against. Policies, audits, and remediation efforts all point back to it.