What exactly is WCAG?

Making the web more accessible to everyone can mean a lot of different things to different people. Fortunately, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 provide information and guidance on a full range of recommendations that make sites more accessible. From hearing and vision impairments to learning disabilities, limited mobility, and more, WCAG 2.0 has been designed to ensure that your web content is more widely available to any and every user.
 
WCAG 2.0 improved on the guidelines originally set forth in 1999 while also making them more general; the generalization made it possible to create and apply guidelines for all technology, not just specific examples (e.g. web browsers, laptop computers, etc.). With the growth and rapid expansion of mobile devices and even in-car technology, it was critical that WCAG was adapted to address current and future accessibility needs for a broader audience.
 
The basics of WCAG 2.0 are four principles – technology (including websites) should be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Following that, WCAG 2.0 also classifies accessibility in three categories: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Level AAA is the highest, and is the goal that every site, including yours, should hope and work to achieve.
 
While relatively simple, incorporating WCAG 2.0 guidelines into your development process can seem like a daunting task. But our team of accessibility experts is focused on making it possible for your site or sites to achieve ADA compliance quickly and effectively. ADASure is here to answer any questions you may have about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and we look forward to helping you get started toward complete site compliance and an improved user experience for everyone.