WCAG Priority AA

W3C WCAG 2.2 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines AA

Website Accessibility Standards 2.2 Priority AA

This set of building regs for websites, according to the WCAG, are the standards a website should achieve. As they put it, "A Web content developer "should" satisfy this checkpoint. Otherwise, one or more groups will find it difficult to access information in the document. Satisfying this checkpoint will remove significant barriers to accessing Web documents." (https://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/full-checklist). This is Version 1 of the Priority A Website Accessibility Standards and it dates back to 1999.

Version 2.2 of this Standard was released in October 2023 and is described by WCAG in the following way: This conformance level is used in most accessibility rules and regulations around the world, including the ADA. To meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA conformance, the website is usable and understandable for the majority of people with or without disabilities.

Priority AA Standards include audio descriptions for video content, captions for live audio content, sign language for all pre-recorded media, orientation not being restricted to a single display, contrast of text and images, ability to resize text, text flowing freely without required scrollbars in both directions, multiple ways of locating a particular webpage and so on.

AA does not sit on its own!

Level AA includes all Level A and AA requirements. This is clearly stated by WCAG. If you have 3 standards (must include, should include, could include) it is clear that each one is an increasing level of complexity from the previous and it assumes that the previous requirements have already been fulfilled. The guidance on the UK Government website does not state this explicitly and I can understand why: a quick read of the AA guidelines does indeed make this clear. The Government would reasonably think that there would be no need to restate something like this when it is clear for anyone to see for themselves.

Unfortunately, I think we have a situation where website owners and website designers are taking a quick look at the Government Guidelines and just purely focussing on AA Compliance. This will not protect them and we sincerely hope the Government will make this information clearer in the future, although there is no obligation on them to do so.

Remember, merely complying with the Government's Statutory requirements does not in itself make your website accessible.

If you are concerned that your current website does not meet either AA or A standard, or both, please get in touch with us for a free 15-minute consultation by following this link.