The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) update 2.1 includes important recommendations for improving web accessibility. WCAG 2.1 does not replace WCAG 2.0 but rather amends it to include considerations of new criteria. These amendments aim to build upon the goals of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) to make web accessibility available to all, no matter what their disability.
Let’s take a closer look at WCAG 2.1 and how MAB Accessibility can help you implement these tools for your website.
3 Key Areas of Concern Addressed by WCAG 2.1
The following three factors are key areas of concern not previously address in WCAG 2.0:
- Mobile—WCAG 2.0, released in 2008, arrived just one year after the 2007 release of the iPhone. The sudden and growing use of mobile greatly affected web accessibility. Many users with disabilities found the mobile devices helpful tools due to the built-in assistance features and apps. WCAG 2.0 was too new to recognize or to include the best mobile practices for accessibility. WCAG 2.1 amends 2.0 to address mobile web accessibility.
- Low-Vision Users—Many web users with visual impairments are not blind but experience low-vision. In fact, macular degeneration accounts for almost 45 percent of all cases involving low-vision, according to the National Eye Institute. This disease is age-related and affects the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail and blurs one’s central vision. WCAG 2.1 amends WCAG 2.0 to include more information about low-vision and web accessibility.
- Cognitive Disabilities—This area of concern is challenging due to the various types of learning impairments. Since the release of WCAG 2.0, additional research resulted in 11 new criteria for WCAG 2.1. These new criteria include:
• Motion-activated services
• Support for the automatic population of form fields
• Improvements to text layout requirements
• Orientation of devices
WCAG 2.1 is not legally required—yet. An important court ruling in November of 2018 resulted in WCAG 2.1 as required in a settlement between Alameda County, California and the National Federation of the Blind. Applying the WCAG 2.1 guidelines to your website is a proactive approach to future changes in compliance. It also helps users with disabilities to better navigate your site and to learn more about your services.
About MAB Accessibility
Compliance rules and recommendations for web accessibility are complex and overwhelming. Let the professional team at MAB Accessibility take charge of your web accessibility. We’ll work to ensure your site is compliant and user-friendly for people with disabilities, even temporary ones like a broken arm or lost glasses.
At MAB Accessibility, we’ve developed a specialized accessibility toolbar. Unlike any other web toolbar, this one is easily customized by users based upon their needs. Eight unique controls help users with such tasks as changing the font size or turning off distracting animations. If it’s time to reevaluate the accessibility of your site, contact us. We’ll review font and graphics, among other features. Once we decide upon a plan to get your site up to compliance and user-friendly with our toolbar and services, we’ll continue to monitor your site.
Web accessibility is constantly evolving with new trends in technology and as research discovers new information regarding disabilities. You have enough to do with running your business or organization without trying to keep up with this important but often confusing information. MAB Accessibility is a trusted partner when it comes to web accessibility. We take great pride in staying atop of the latest trends and in developing tools to enhance user experience. Making the web accessible for everyone is what we do. To receive a free quote, call us at (714) 955-3165 or contact us online today.