The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define a global standard for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. These guidlines introduce criteria that address users with low vision, cognitive or learning disabilities, and those relying on assistive technologies. In short, the goal of WCAG is to ensure that web and mobile applications are usable by everyone.
For private sector organizations, compliance with the WCAG is becoming an essential part of digital accessibility obligations worldwide. While not every country has a law that explicitly mandates WCAG, most accessibility regulations and court rulings use Level AA of WCAG 2.1 as the recognized benchmark. WCAG compliance is measured in 3 levels:
In the EU, the European Accessibility Act (2019/882) requires private companies that offer digital products and services (such as e-commerce platforms, banking, transport, and communication services) to ensure accessibility. Compliance must align with the harmonized standard EN 301 549, which references level AA compliance of WCAG 2.1 (and will be updated to reflect WCAG 2.2 and future versions). The directive applies to all companies providing digital products and services in the EU market, including non-EU companies, except companies with fewer than 10 employees.
In the United States, there is no single law that explicitly mandates WCAG compliance for all private businesses. However, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), digital services provided by private companies must be accessible to people with disabilities. While the ADA does not name WCAG(or any other standerd) directly, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and numerous court decisions and settlements consistently use WCAG 2.1 level AA as the benchmark for accessibility. Non-compliance can lead to lawsuits, settlements, or DOJ enforcement actions. As a result, many private organizations voluntarily adopt WCAG standards to reduce legal and reputational risks.
In the United Kingdom, private sector companies are subject to the Equality Act 2010, which requires them to make “reasonable adjustments” to ensure their digital services are accessible to people with disabilities. Although the Act does not explicitly mandate WCAG compliance, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and UK courts commonly reference level AA of WCAG 2.1 (and, more recently, WCAG 2.2) as the recognized benchmark for demonstrating accessibility.
Our WCAG audit process combines automated and manual testing to ensure complete coverage. We manually evaluate keyboard navigation, focus management, and interaction flow for operability. Screen reader testing is performed with tools such as NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack to verify proper labeling, ARIA roles, and logical reading order. We analyze color contrast ratios, heading structures, and form semantics to meet accessibility thresholds across compliance levels A, AA, and AAA. Each audit includes detailed test cases, user scenarios, and documented findings with remediation recommendations to help your team achieve and maintain full WCAG 2.2 compliance.
Penalties for failing to meet accessibility requirements vary widely between countries and jurisdictions, but generally speaking, non-compliance can expose companies to legal actions, including lawsuits, regulatory enforcement, or administrative fines. Organizations may be required to remediate inaccessible digital services within a set timeframe, and settlements or penalties can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more. Beyond legal consequences, companies risk reputational damage, loss of customers, and reduced market access. For these reasons, many private-sector organizations follow WCAG standards proactively to minimize both legal and business risks.
Our WCAG audit process combines automated and manual testing to ensure complete coverage. We manually evaluate keyboard navigation, focus management, and interaction flow for operability. Screen reader testing is performed with tools such as NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack to verify proper labeling, ARIA roles, and logical reading order. We analyze color contrast ratios, heading structures, and form semantics to meet accessibility thresholds across compliance levels A, AA, and AAA. Each audit includes detailed test cases, user scenarios, and documented findings with remediation recommendations to help your team achieve and maintain full WCAG 2.2 compliance.
