WCAG and ADA Compliance
Automated Web Accessibility – ADA & WCAG Compliance Solution For Your Business
MAKE YOUR WEBSITE COMPLIANT!
Avoid Getting Sued
You need ADA Compliance if you are in the USA, outside the USA you need WCAG Compliance. We provide ADA and WCAG Compliance Services.
Is ADA compliance mandatory in Canada?
Who must comply with Canadian accessibility laws?
Typically, all businesses and organizations created for or that rely on the public and private sectors must comply with Canadian accessibility laws.
1. WCAG:
WCAG was launched in 2008, WCAG 2.0 refers to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which are published by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 provide recommendations for making Website content more accessible.
WCAG comprises a set of standards curated by the W3C to give site owners as well as companies actionable guidelines for developing a digital world accessible to people with disabilities. It has three tiers of compliance:
Level A: This covers the most basic accessibility features. The inclusion of these features is a must to accord accessibility to all people with different types of disabilities.
Level AA: This is an extension of the basic accessibility (Level A) features that deal with identifying the most common and biggest barriers in accessibility for the disabled. WCAG Compliance with checkpoints help remove a significant number of hurdles in accessing the information on the web.
Level AAA: This is the highest tier of web accessibility that seeks to remove all barriers in web accessibility for the disabled. Websites have the option to choose whether or not to implement this checkpoint.
The WCAG is an ISO standard and recognized as the main go-to source for implementing digital accessibility.
Here’s more information on all you need to know about WCAG 2.1 Compliance and WCAG 2.0.
2. Section 508:
Section 508 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act. and consequently, a federal law. Section 508 of the Act mandates that federal agencies acquire. develop, use and information technology. maintain electronics, and communications which can be easily accessed by people with disabilities.
In accordance with the law, any technology is considered to be accessible if people with disabilities can use it with the same effectiveness and ease as people without.
It’s crucial to note here that Section 508 is not just limited to federal employees but also extends to the general public that uses federal agency resources.
3. ADA:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). was passed in 1990, and is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against all people on the basis of their disabilities. ADA’s goal is to ensure that people with disabilities get the same opportunities and rights as everyone else.
The law touches up different aspects of everyday life. such as employment, education, . transportation, and also extends to information technology and electronics. which brings websites under its responsibility.
Difference Between ADA, WCAG, and Section 508
The key difference between ADA, WCAG, and Section 508 lies in how they prioritize different aspects of web operations in relation to compliance toward a more accessible digital space. In some cases, the ADA has more stringent standards, in some others, it could be Section 508 or the WCAG.
Here are some main differences that set them apart:
The ADA’s main focus is on ensuring the same level of access to the disabled. and to for this to take effect, it has placed guidelines for local governments, state governments, businesses, non-profit organizations, ICT. digital media and websites.
Section 508 concerns are about incorporating digital accessibility in government websites, online activities, or information and communication technology in any form so that equal access can be granted to all general public and federal employees, irrespective of their physical abilities.
WCAG is a set of approved guidelines for developing accessible digital content. The main focus of these WCAG guidelines is on HTML accessibility. Even though the outlook of these guidelines is almost identical to the standards set forth in Section 508, WCAG constitute a universal engagement towards providing equal and a higher degree of access.