What is the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)?

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is an initiative of the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) to improve usability. Below, all its characteristics and advantages of its implementation are discussed.

Web accessibility according to the WAI

In terms of web accessibility, the WAI is based on a series of essential principles such as the following:

• It ensures that the technologies used in a website are fully accessible.
• Develops guidelines to facilitate user consultation, developer creation, and improvement of web content.
• It promotes the creation of tools for repair and evaluation of accessibility.
• Carry out informative and educational activities.
• It facilitates the development and research of everything that affects the accessibility of a website.

Who is responsible for developing WCAG?

The AG WG (Accessibility Guidelines Working Groups) which is part of the WAI belonging to the W3C. The WAI usually updates the techniques for WCAG 2 and also the explanatory texts included. In addition, it allows professionals to participate in the drafting process with diverse proposals.

The two versions of WCAG

The acronym stands for
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
. Version 2.0 was released on December 11, 2008. Version 2.1 arrived 10 years later. Both standards meet the same requirements. The second version fixes some bugs from the first and is recommended by the W3C.

WCAG 2.1: essential characteristics

The digital accessibility proposed by WCAG 2.1 arises from certain shortcomings of the previous version. In it, cognitive and visual problems when using a mobile device are taken into account. The idea is to ensure that any of the measures used are easily verifiable and applicable. Its most important features are:

• The option to receive guidance when using a mobile application.
• Enjoy greater compatibility with user interactions .
• Adapt to gestures of all kinds without the interface being activated.
• The contrast of the graphics is higher to make them easier to visualize.
• A customization of the text and design to make it easier to access content and sections of the web.
• Users with cognitive disabilities should receive complete information of each possible order. This promotes that the interaction with the content is the most appropriate.

Problems arising from visual, hearing and physical disabilities are assessed. In addition, the usability of the web or application for any user is increased. In this sense, the improvement of the UX contributes to increase traffic and the level of profits.

Who are the recipients of WCAG?

The professionals who have to take into account these recommendations are those that we now detail:

• All those related to the development of any web content. Designers, authors and the like.
• Software developers.
• Experts who create tools aimed at evaluating the accessibility of a web page.

Among other professionals, researchers and legislators benefit from this regulation. We must emphasize that we are facing a technical standard and not a series of tips to improve accessibility.

What do WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 documents contain?

The content of these documents is divided into several specific sections that we will comment on.

Compliance standards

A guide is included to easily adapt to the requirements. It is made up of aspects such as conformity criteria and the most effective techniques. In short, it is the checklist and the starting point for implementing the corresponding measures.

Available techniques

It is a more concrete text that clarifies how to program the code correctly. The objective is to inform, not oblige, the professional who can consult them. Compliance with WCAG 2.0 depends on compliance standards and not on the techniques employed. This nuance is of enormous importance so as not to confuse the terms.

Understanding WCAG 2.1

The inclusion of extra support facilitates the implementation of WCAG 2.0. The recipients are those who want to know the conformity criteria in a deeper way. Written in an appropriate didactic tone, they are easy to understand. Their guidelines help achieve the goal of building a fully adapted website or application. Accessibility ceased to be a complement to become a necessity.

What kind of recognition do WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 have?

The ISO/IEC 40500 standard of 2012. The contents of the ISO standard can be found in the catalogue of the same name. That a WCAG complies with this standard is a total guarantee of accessibility of the corresponding web or application.

Are there penalties for non-compliance with WCAG 2.0/2.1?

Yes, but we must qualify the answer. RD 1112/2018 is responsible for legislating everything related to the accessibility of a website. Taking into account that the WCAG standards refer to this concept, non-compliance generates a sanction. The minimum is 301 euros (very mild). From there, everything will depend on the possible modifications that are made and the new version.

However, it is always the one who uses the web or application who has to file the corresponding complaint. Immediate correction of technical defects helps to avoid paying a fine. Reaching this extreme is easily avoidable by reading the regulations and making the necessary adaptations with a specialized company such as pasiona.

The important thing is to be aware that the more a website adapts to anyone, the greater its reach. The use of some techniques is enough to make each content more accessible.

We must also highlight the effort of the WAI to review each proposal received and implement it if necessary. The Web Accessibility Initiative leads the way forward and offers all the guidelines. The result is a more effective, functional and appropriate proposal. The implementation of technical recommendations is the first step to better promote any proposal.