Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 A/AA Checklist

How to meet WCAG 2.2 guidelines

This in-depth WCAG checklist will help you comply with WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2 guidelines — increasing the usability and accessibility of your digital presence.

What's Inside

Alt text details, considerations, and exceptions
Color contrast and accessible color use best practices
Live and pre-recorded video, audio, and multimedia tips
Keyboard navigation and operation checkpoints
User error prevention, help, and messaging tactics
And so much more!

WCAG 2.2 is continuing the work of WCAG 2.1 to improve accessibility guidance

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are getting fairly-regular updates over the past few years to account for the rapid evolution of the digital landscape.

The published public draft states that WCAG 2.2 serves to continue the work of WCAG 2.1: “Improving accessibility guidance for three major groups: users with cognitive or learning disabilities, users with low vision, and users with disabilities on mobile devices.”

A comprehensive accessibility testing strategy will include interpretation and application of WCAG 2.2 A/AA success criteria, once formalized and adopted.

What’s new in WCAG 2.2

Nine new success criteria are expected to be included in the final edit. Success criteria are the individual, testable technical checkpoints that comprise WCAG guidelines and principles. Eight of the nine additions are at the A or AA conformance level, meaning they are likely to be broadly adopted by organizations.

One existing success criterion, 2.4.7 Focus Visible, is expected to change from Level AA to Level A designation under WCAG 2.2, meaning there is no level of conformance that would allow for there to be no visible indicator upon keyboard focus.

Backwards-compatibility of WCAG 2.2 and WCAG 2.1

WCAG 2.2 is backwards-compatible with WCAG 2.1. This means that complying with a WCAG 2.2 checklist would also ensure compliance with a WCAG 2.1 checklist, as the new guidance builds on but does not replace or nullify the current standard.

Successfully meeting the criteria detailed in the WCAG 2.2 checklist can be achieved whether accessibility was considered during a website’s design process or accessibility measures need to be taken to improve the existing experience.