Breaking Down WCAG 2.2: The Latest Accessibility Updates You Need to Know from W3C
Published on 14th November 2024
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 were published on the 5th of October 2023, by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). The new version features several new success criteria to improve web accessibility, with some updates to existing recommendations. However, it can be confusing to know exactly what has changed and what is expected of small businesses. With this guide, we aim to introduce the published WCAG 2.2 and emphasise its importance for improving web accessibility.
The nine new criteria outlined in the WCAG are judged on a three-tiered scale: A, AA or AAA. A signifies a basic accessibility rating. AA has strong accessibility, and AAA has excellent accessibility. Businesses should ideally strive to meet the highest recommended ratings in all nine categories.
It’s important to stress that conformance with WCAG 2.2 may not be a legal requirement ‘per se’ for your business, but best practice should always aim to meet at least an AA conformance rating. By meeting the nine new performance criteria, you will be better placed to serve users with a wider range of disabilities and enhance your overall user experience. In addition, compliance with WCAG 2.2 is recommended as best practice for meeting long-term web legality worldwide. It’s also worth remembering that meeting the criteria in the most engaging way possible will help you to create a website that can be used and enjoyed by the widest number of people, which will be good for business in the long run.
Focus not obscured: Minimum (Level AA)
When you are using a user interface component on your site for keyboard users, you need to make sure that at least a portion of it must remain visible. That means it should not be hidden by other content on the site.
Focus not obscured: Enhanced (Level AAA)
To meet the higher level of focus not obscured for interface components for keyboard users none of the focus indicators must be hidden. That is the AAA level of success criteria that was previously listed but still applies to the updated guidelines.
Focus appearance (Level AAA)
Keyboard users can navigate websites using the tab key, allowing them to jump between elements on your website. Focus indicators must have sufficient colour contrast between the focused and unfocused elements. In addition, they must be of sufficient size to be clearly visible and easy to spot for users. They should be at least 2px thick with a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1.
Dragging movements: Minimum (Level AA)
This requirement stipulates that any part of your website that utilises a dragging movement provides an alternative means of achieving this. That can include tapping or clicking. For example, instead of dragging an element on the page, the interface could provide buttons that move the element in question in a particular direction. That is because some users may have limited ability to carry out dragging motions with a mouse.
Target size: Minimum (Level AA)
These standards are to support users who may have hand tremors or difficulties with motor movements. As such, you must ensure spaces between clickable elements reduce the chance of accidental clicking. For the AA rating, all interactive targets should be at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels in size, except for clickable links within a sentence. Additionally, there must be sufficient space between targets.
Consistent help (Level A)
That enables users to find help to complete tasks on the website. All mechanisms, such as chatbots, contact information or FAQS, should all occur in the same order on every page. Therefore, if you make a help option available, make sure it’s available consistently and in the same relative place. That makes it easier to find while navigating.
Redundant entry (Level A)
This is designed to assist users with cognitive or motor disabilities. In tasks such as registering or completing a form, information the user has already entered must be made available to them. That can help users as they will not have to re-enter information more than once unless absolutely necessary (for example, for security reasons).
Accessible authentication: Minimum (Level AA)
If your website requires a cognitive test, for example, when memorising a username or password to effect log in, there must be different ways of authentication not requiring this ability. Help mechanisms need to be available to assist users who may require it.
As an example, username and password fields should allow for entry by a password manager or should allow for users to paste into the fields. Cognitive function tests that require the recognition of an object are allowed, as are tests asking users to identify pictures or images.
Accessible authentication: Enhanced (Level AAA)
Users should not be forced to memorise information or spell correctly. If an authentication process has a cognitive function test, the website should provide alternatives that provide a help mechanism to complete the test. In addition, authentication by object recognition or user-provided content is not permitted at this level.
We must try to make all our websites accessible and usable for all types of customers, especially those with limited abilities or disabilities that make web access more challenging. It’s also worth understanding that making all websites easier to use improves the user experience for all. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are a framework designed to help designers create sites that maximise accessibility and conform to the highest levels of accessibility rating.
To find out more about the WCAG 2.2 guidelines, get in touch with a member of our team. We will be happy to talk through the latest updates and discuss the changes that have been made.
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