Accessibility Resources

Why Accessibility Matters

Web accessibility ensures that websites, tools, and technologies are designed so that people with disabilities can use them. This includes people with visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.

But accessibility benefits everyone. Consider situational limitations like bright sunlight on a screen, a quiet environment where audio can't be played, or a slow internet connection. Accessible design creates better experiences for all users.

1.3B+ People worldwide with disabilities

2.2B People with vision impairments

350M+ People with color blindness

8% Of men have color vision deficiency

Understanding WCAG

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standard for web accessibility, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WCAG 2.2, published in October 2023, is the current version and is also an ISO standard (ISO/IEC 40500:2025).

The Four Principles (POUR)

WCAG is organized around four core principles. Content must be:

Perceivable - Information must be presentable in ways users can perceive (sight, hearing, or touch)
Operable - Interface components must be operable by keyboard, mouse, voice, and other input methods
Understandable - Information and operation of the interface must be understandable
Robust - Content must be robust enough to work with current and future technologies

Conformance Levels

A

Minimum

Basic accessibility features that don't significantly impact design. Essential for any website.

AA

Enhanced

Highest level of accessibility. Not always achievable for all content types.

Color Contrast Requirements

Color contrast is governed by WCAG Success Criteria 1.4.3 (Contrast - Minimum) and 1.4.6 (Contrast - Enhanced). These ensure text is readable against its background for users with low vision or color blindness.

Normal Text

Under 18pt or 14pt bold

AA 4.5:1

AAA 7:1

Large Text

18pt+ or 14pt+ bold

AA 3:1

AAA 4.5:1

UI Components

Icons, form inputs, focus indicators

AA 3:1

Beyond Color Alone

WCAG requires that color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information. Always provide additional indicators like icons, patterns, or text labels alongside color coding.

Designing for Color Blindness

Color vision deficiency affects approximately 1 in 12 men (8%) and 1 in 200 women (0.5%). Understanding the different types helps create designs that work for everyone.

Protanopia

Red blindness - difficulty distinguishing red from green, and red appears darker

~1% of males

Deuteranopia

Green blindness - most common form, difficulty with red-green distinction

~5% of males

Tritanopia

Blue blindness - rare, difficulty distinguishing blue from yellow

~0.01% of population

Achromatopsia

Complete color blindness - sees only in grayscale

~0.003% of population

Best Practices

Use high contrast ratios that work in grayscale
Don't rely on color alone to convey meaning
Add patterns, icons, or text labels to color-coded elements
Test designs with color blindness simulators
Avoid problematic color combinations like red/green or blue/yellow

Legal Requirements

Web accessibility is increasingly mandated by law. While specific requirements vary by jurisdiction and organization type, most reference WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 Level AA as the technical standard.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

United States

Title III applies to "places of public accommodation" and has been interpreted to include websites. The 2024 DOJ rule under Title II mandates WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for state and local government websites by 2026-2027.

Section 508

United States (Federal)

Requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible. Updated in 2018 to reference WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

European Union

Effective June 2025, requires products and services sold in the EU to be accessible. References WCAG 2.1 AA through EN 301 549.

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Canada (Ontario)

Requires WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance for public sector and large organizations.

Essential Resources

These authoritative resources will help you learn more about accessibility and stay current with standards and best practices.