What’s in the guide?
An explanation of the WCAG standards, versions, and levels
A breakdown of each WCAG success criterion- An overview of different accessibility testing methods
An interactive checklist of all WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 success criteria
WCAG and ADA Compliance
While compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)and WCAG conformance have become almost synonymous over the years, it’s important to understand the distinction. Since WCAG itself is not a law, but a set of accessibility standards, there is no such thing as “compliance” with WCAG. However, WCAG can be, and has been, incorporated into the law as a standard for evaluating accessibility compliance, as in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA does not specifically state that conforming with WCAG standards is a requirement for compliance, but WCAG was designed to help website owners achieve the level of accessibility that is required by laws like the ADA. To remember this distinction, it can be helpful to think of accessibility laws such as the ADA as the end destination—i.e., web accessibility for all—while WCAG maps out how to get there. Learn more about how WCAG conformance matters for compliance with global accessibility laws in our guide.
