Digital Accessibility Standards, Principles and Best Practices

In addition to local and global laws governing public and private sector organizations around accessibility and nondiscrimination against people with disabilities, there are also widely-accepted standards, principles, and best practices pertaining to digital accessibility. 

Although different countries and municipalities may have their own standards they follow, the most widely accepted global standard for digital accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Beyond WCAG, accessibility fundamentally boils down to building all digital content using Universal Design principles.

WCAG

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) digital accessibility guidelines published by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the main international standards organization for the Internet. They are a set of recommendations for making digital content more accessible, primarily for people with disabilities—but also for all user agents, including highly limited devices, such as mobile phones. WCAG 2.0 is the ISO-recognized standard for web accessibility, although WCAG 2.1 was recently published in 2018.

WCAG has four basic principles, each with their own success criteria and use cases. The four principles are that content must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.

1. Perceivable information and user interface means that there must be text alternatives for non-text content (alt tags), captions and other alternatives for multimedia, that content can be presented in different ways, and that content can be made easier to see and hear.
2. Operable user interface and navigation means that all content can be accessed from the keyboard, switch device or other common input, that users have time to read and use content, that content will not cause physical reactions such as seizures, and that users can easily navigate content and determine where they are.
3. Understandable information and user interface means that text is readable and understandable, content appears and operates predictably, and that users are helped to avoid and correct mistakes.
4. Robust content and reliable interpretation means that content is compatible with current and future user tools and technologies.

Universal Design

Universal design refers to the design of an environment, building, product or service so that it can be accessed, understood, and fully utilized to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of ability or age. It means that such things meet the needs of all people who want to use them. Environments (and products, services, etc.) that are accessible, usable and convenient benefit all users. By considering the diverse needs and abilities of all throughout the design process, universal design creates products, services and environments that meet peoples' needs. 

Universal Design has seven basic principles, some of which overlap in ways with WCAG principles. They include Equitable Use, Flexibility in Use, Simple and Intuitive Use, Perceptible Information, Tolerance for Error, Low Physical Effort, Size and Space for Approach and Use

1. Equitable Use means the design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
2. Flexibility in Use means the design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
3. Simple and Intuitive Use means that use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible Information means the design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for Error means the design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low Physical Effort means the design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
7. Size and Space for Approach and Use means that appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

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