Getting started
What does digital accessibility include?
It includes websites, apps, email, documents, video, digital signage, and interactive services. The goal is for people with disabilities to obtain information and complete tasks using the methods and technologies that work for them.
Is accessibility only for people who use screen readers?
No. Accessibility also supports people with low vision, hearing loss, mobility or dexterity disabilities, speech disabilities, and cognitive, learning, or neurological disabilities. Different needs call for different design choices.
Where should a small organization begin?
Identify essential tasks and your most-used templates and content. Check keyboard access, headings, labels, contrast, image alternatives, and document structure. Fix blocking problems, assign owners, and create a manageable review routine. See the testing guide.
WCAG and legal requirements
Which version of WCAG should we use?
WCAG 2.2 AA is this site’s recommended design target. Also evaluate the exact version and level named in your applicable law, contract, or policy. For example, the DOJ Title II web rule specifies WCAG 2.1 AA.
What is the difference between A, AA, and AAA?
These are conformance levels. AA includes applicable A requirements plus AA requirements; AAA adds more. Meeting most criteria does not establish conformance. Individual AAA practices can still be useful without claiming whole-site AAA conformance.
Does a passing automated scan prove compliance?
No. Tools cannot fully judge whether descriptions are meaningful, focus behavior is usable, or people can complete tasks. Combine scans with manual and assistive technology testing and appropriate legal review.
What are the current ADA Title II web deadlines?
DOJ’s April 2026 extension sets April 26, 2027 for entities with populations of 50,000 or more, other than special districts, and April 26, 2028 for smaller entities and special district governments. Existing ADA duties continue. See the law guide and official sources.
Does the same rule apply to every private business?
No. Title II covers state and local government. DOJ’s guidance addresses web access under Title III for public accommodations, but Title II’s technical rule and deadlines should not be treated as a universal private-business rule.
Can an accessibility overlay make a website compliant?
A widget or overlay is not a substitute for accessible content, controls, and verified task completion. Evaluate the underlying website and fix barriers in its design and implementation.
Content and documents
Does every image need a description?
Every image needs the appropriate treatment for its purpose. Informative images need a useful alternative; purely decorative HTML images generally use an empty alternative. Functional images need an accessible name that explains the action.
Are captions and transcripts interchangeable?
No. Captions are synchronized with media and include meaningful speech and sound. Transcripts provide a separate text version. A transcript generally does not replace required captions or AA audio description.
Are automatic captions good enough?
They should be reviewed and corrected. Check names, technical terms, speaker identification, meaningful sounds, and timing. Accuracy matters more than the method used to create them.
Does every video need an extra audio-description track?
Not necessarily. If existing audio already conveys all meaningful visual information, additional description is unnecessary. Otherwise provide the description required for the media type and conformance level.
Is a searchable PDF accessible?
Not necessarily. It may still lack headings, tags, correct reading order, table associations, image alternatives, or usable form fields. OCR and searchable text are only part of the work.
Does the Microsoft Accessibility Checker catch everything?
No. It can identify many issues, but authors must still judge meaning, reading order, interaction, and the final exported file. Use the Office guide for a repeatable workflow.
Can I send an image-only flyer in email?
Put the essential information in the email as real text. An image can supplement it, with an appropriate alternative. Ensure links and attachments are accessible too.
Do I need to make old documents accessible?
The answer depends on the applicable rules, the document’s use, and any defined exception. Age alone is not a universal exemption. Material needed for a current service or an individual’s access may still require attention.
Physical access and technology
Does every physical sign need braille?
No. Requirements depend on the sign’s category and purpose. Permanent room identification and directional information can have different requirements. See the physical signage guide and the Access Board’s official guidance.
Is a QR code enough to make digital signage accessible?
Not by itself. People may be unable to locate, scan, or use it. Provide a practical way to obtain equivalent essential information and service, considering the installed environment and users’ needs.
How is a screen reader different from a magnifier?
A screen reader presents structure and content through speech or braille. A magnifier enlarges part or all of the screen. Some people use both, along with other settings or tools.
Should we test with people with disabilities?
Yes. Task-based evaluation with disabled participants reveals practical barriers and unmet needs. Combine this feedback with technical evaluation; neither method replaces the other.
Does meeting WCAG remove the need for accommodations?
No. Standards do not address every person’s needs. Individual accommodations, effective communication, and other legal duties may remain relevant.