How do you explain WCAG to web developers who are new to accessibility?

Imagine a busy city sidewalk with people of all abilities—some in wheelchairs, others with visual impairments, and some struggling with small text or using a mouse. As a web developer, you want everyone to access and use your product easily. That's where Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) come in! WCAG ensures your website is inclusive, just like building a ramp on the sidewalk for all to pass through without obstacles. It provides rules that make your site friendly to people with disabilities.

The number of variables regarding the combination of permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities is absurdly big. This set of guidelines was made to help us through the process of making products accessible for all of these people, making it easier to cover all (or at least almost all) topics. Is important to read the WCAG's full documentation, but in daily use you can benefit from tools that summarize this content, such as The WCAG Guide, to clear specific doubts in a short time.

WCAG is a set of guidelines published by the W3C that set minimum requirements for web accessibility. The first version of WCAG was published in 1999, making WCAG 25 years old in 2024. The current version is 2.2. WCAG is organized into three levels of conformance, from A (lowest / fewest requirements), to AA, to AAA (highest / most requirements). In practice, the vast majority of organizations -- including governments, companies, educational institutions, etc. -- use level AA. The levels are cumulative, so AA includes all the requirements from both A and AA. When web content conforms to WCAG, it's free of many common issues that prevent people with disabilities from accessing websites and web apps.

WCAG, or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, is like a friendly rulebook for making websites welcoming to everyone, especially those with different abilities. It helps developers design websites so that people with disabilities can easily use them. Imagine it as creating a digital space where everyone, regardless of their needs, can enjoy and understand what's on the web. It's all about being inclusive and making sure no one feels left out while surfing the internet. So, WCAG is like a set of guidelines that make websites friendly and accessible to everyone!

WCAG, short for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, are standards crucial for ensuring web content accessibility for everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Central to these guidelines is the "principle of least astonishment," which emphasizes that elements should operate in predictable ways, fostering intuitive navigation and interaction. This principle serves as a foundational starting point for innovation, enabling developers to creatively expand upon it while maintaining user expectations. WCAG provides a baseline for expected behavior, empowering developers to craft seamless and enjoyable experiences for all users.

In short, WCAG ensures websites are fair, accommodating, and user-friendly for everyone, meeting legal requirements and benefiting your brand while spurring innovation in web development. Moreover, embracing accessibility provides several advantages for businesses, including Increased customer base; customer loyalty, and competitive edge.

WCAG guidelines are the basis for a lot of legislation. For example, in Ontario we have the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act which refers to the WCAG as a mandatory standard for the websites of companies and non-profits over 50 employees, and all government websites. Where WCAG is not directly legislated, it is referenced in accessibility case law. Making your website accessible is not only the right thing to do, it can also avoid a lot of legal hot water. The fine in Ontario is up to $100,000 per day for a corporation.

WCAG is guidebook, gamut of solutions that enable us to keep website compliance with ADA. If ADA is law then WCAG is pathway to adhere to law. WCAG ensure that you care for all and for all means all, especially caring for people as well as law.

WCAG, or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, is essential because it ensures that websites are welcoming to everyone, no matter their abilities. Imagine if a website was a building - WCAG would be like ramps and elevators, making sure everyone can get in and explore comfortably. It's like having subtitles on a video for those who can't hear or using big, clear signs in a store. WCAG makes the online world fair, providing equal opportunities for people with different needs. By following these guidelines, websites become friendlier and easier to use for everyone, creating a digital space where no one feels left out. It's not just about rules, it's about kindness and making the internet a place where everyone is invited and included.

WCAG is a standardized document that is globally considered the de facto standard for web accessibility. It's a stable set of guidelines that for over 25 years has been the foundation for international legislation. Although it originated for web technologies, it's intended to be technology-agnostic, and by applying its principles you can extend its reach well beyond the web onto other digital technologies.

I try not to get into the details of WCAG because developers are great at reading documentation (and there’s loads of it!). It’s more helpful to explain that web accessibility is the diversity and inclusion arm of the internet. Without accessibility, everything developers code can potentially deliver a front end experience that is ableist, ageist and even sexist or racist. Accessibility is a vital pillar of human-centred design.

WCAG IS neatly organized into success criteria (SC), each identified by a unique number like 4.1.3. In this case, first number, 4, refers to one of the four main principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, or Robust. In this context, 4 stands for "Robust." The second number, 1, indicates a specific guideline within that principle, focusing on compatibility with various tools like screen readers. The third number, 3, points to the exact success criterion, in this case, "Status Messages," which is about notifying users of significant changes on the page. This numbering system, such as 4.1.3, serves as an address to locate specific rules about making websites accessible

While there isn't a universally defined "standard" level, Level AA conformance is often considered the minimum recommended level for ensuring a reasonably high level of accessibility.

WCAG is like a guidebook for websites, organized into four parts and under 13 Guidelines and 87 SC under 3 levels such as A, AA and AAA: 1.Perceivable: Make content easy to see and hear. Example: Use captions for videos. 2.Operable: Ensure easy navigation. Example: Allow keyboard navigation. 3.Understandable: Keep things clear and simple. Example: Use straightforward language. 4.Robust: Ensure the website works with different tools. Example: Make it compatible with various devices.

WCAG is divided into principles, guidelines and success criteria. That goes from the macrostructure to the microstructure. In simple words: 1. The primary category that includes everything is principles. (X.) 2. The subcategory of principles is guidelines. (X. X.) 3. The testable unit is the success criterion for improving accessibility (X. X. X.).

I agree with everything here, but it's crucial not only to test and evaluate your web content but to integrate these guidelines into your design and development process from the beginning. Doing so can help ensure a more comprehensive and ingrained accessibility approach, as opposed to retroactive fixes which may lead to oversights and inconsistent results. One more thing to note is that it's highly valuable to involve people with various types of disabilities in user testing, as they can provide firsthand insight into accessibility challenges and the effectiveness of your solutions.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) serve as a vital framework for enhancing web accessibility. Comprising principles of Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR), WCAG offers specific success criteria to guide developers. Implementation involves incorporating descriptive alternative text for images, ensuring keyboard operability, and maintaining sufficient color contrast. Accessible forms, captions, and transcriptions contribute to inclusivity. Rigorous testing, especially with assistive technologies, and ongoing user feedback help identify and address a11y challenges. Staying informed about WCAG updates ensures websites evolve to meet the needs of diverse users, fostering a more inclusive online experience.

Quality is key here — e.g. a code check can tell you the alt text is present, but only a person (especially one with the actual disability) can tell you wether that alt text makes any sense or not! That is why testing with users is ESSENTIAL!

I like to see WCAG as a beginning, but never an ending. Regardless if you just started or are an expert in Web Accessibility, WCAG will always be your ally to ensure you cover the basics. So it means that, if you use it as a checklist, you'll be on the way to making it accessible to a large number of people in their different conditions and situations. But to stop there would be just like writing a code without seeing it live. How would you know if it looks good? If all the functionalities are working properly? If it's responsible for all devices and browsers? So once you're compliant with WCAG, it is necessary to test it with users. I'm pretty sure you'll find scenarios and situations that will demand further investigation.

While WCAG is a great accessibility resource, it does fall short on plain language guidance. WCAG provides some resources in their blog and a how-to on "clear words," but it would be great to see some more definitive guidelines and browser plug ins that test for plain language.

Once you make sure your team is aware and willing to collaborate, is time to be efficient. It's not scalable if you have to check all the documentation for every new project. So, in cooperation with the design team, you must ensure every component is accessible - make sure you have a design system and a storybook or similar, and make all necessary changes for it to be accessible. This will mitigate the chance of creating new non-accessible components because you'll already have them created and documented. This also increases the speed of developing any new product or feature.

I start normally by showing them the amazing Understanding page of the w3.org for the 2.2. Standard. Also, recently there has been a cool community file design on Figma with all the cards that make life simpler, above all when you want to prepare presentations or workshops. It is important to make new developers understand that creating accessible code is not secondary, the web is already full of webs with six <h1> per page and <h4> after <h2> or viceversa because people coded these things without thinking twice. Then I would go to more complex stuff like screen readers or right use of ARIA.

I echo what other contributors are saying about knowledge building and empathy. Identify companies who are leaders in accessibility and look for the "accessibility" global footer on their home page. Those make great examples of how to communicate your commitment as well. Build your own global footer using the frameworks of other firms' pages. While at it, be forthcoming about being on the journey and constantly improving.

It is often not well known just how many people live with a disability that would impact their online experiences. Many more people who don't identify as disabled still struggle to use certain technologies without simple accessible features like text resizing, captions, keyboard-only, etc. In addition to these groups, many able-bodied people still use accessibility features for other reasons (captions is particularly popular, at over 50% of users keeping them on at least some of the time). To advocate for accessibility you simply need to demonstrate that the disabled community is a sizeable user demographic, and that there are even more people beyond that who benefit from WCAG.

Some other ways to advocate for WCAG is by promoting accessible technologies, incorporating WCAG into organizational policies, and influencing legislation for WCAG compliance (like in Colorado). Educational events like workshops and webinars can broaden awareness and understanding. Showcasing accessible websites and partnering with disability rights groups, while engaging in accessibility research and innovation, can also significantly contribute to creating a more accessible web environment.

I like to share with clients that one quarter of all people in the US are living with some form of a disability. I also like to share that disabilities aren't always visible because people may only be considering physical disabilities. Designing and developing with accessibility in mind helps everyone understand and use your digital product.

The pros are opening new markets, delighted customers, and lower litigation and brand risk. It also helps to share examples internally (not publicly) of digital experiences that are NOT accessible, and how frustrating they are for users. One of the reasons many developers don't know about WCAG is because they haven't seen how essential it is, and their customers aren't providing feedback to that effect. No feedback does NOT mean no problem. No feedback sometimes means no disabled clients because they have gone to competitors!

In my experience, I've seen people becoming more empathic about something once they have a glance at other people's vision of it. It is hard for a person who doesn't have a visual disability to understand the life of a blind or colorblind person, for example. But you can make them feel a bit by suggesting then to try and use a screen reader while blindfolded, or a color blindness simulator plugin. This helps at least to ignite the first flame.

Avoid using the terms "fully accessible" or "compliant with WCAG." There is no such thing as "fully accessible" because user preferences and assistive technologies are continuously evolving. Meanwhile a refresh to an existing portion of your website may render previously accessible capabilities inaccessible suddenly. And because WCAG are guidelines, you can strive to conform to them, but any mentions of compliance can only apply to your internal policies.

WCAG only covers a subset of disabilities. The neurodivergent spectrum, for example, is barely covered under the current guidelines. Furthermore, being WCAG conformant doesn't mean your website is 100% accessible to everyone. Different people with the same sort of disability will experience the world differently. They might have access to different solutions or varying levels of experience using their assistive technologies. To get a more in-depth understanding of what your (disabled) users are experiencing, user research with disabled people remains crucial in taking the net step towards accessibility.

Accessibility and Usability nearly always align so making products more accessible inherently makes them more usable for ALL users! Universal design should be the standard, and as legislation (slowly) catches up to innovation, it surely will be.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are principles established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to enhance web content accessibility. With four core principles - Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR) - WCAG aims to make content accessible to people with and without disabilities. Developers should provide text alternatives, ensure keyboard accessibility, and create clear, predictable interfaces. Achieving at least Level AA conformance, considering three levels (A, AA, AAA), is encouraged. Implementation involves coding practices like accommodating screen readers and testing for diverse assistive technologies. Regular testing and evaluation are vital for ongoing accessibility.

Accessibility, usability, and inclusion are interconnected but distinct concepts. Accessibility aligns with WCAG standards and is measurable. Usability aims for efficiency and user-friendliness, assessed through user feedback. Inclusion goes beyond compliance, considering factors like cultural background and age. Rather than just adhering to guidelines, strive to create a product that is accessible, usable, and inclusive, integrating these principles throughout the design and development process to meet the needs of all users.