STANDARDS & FRAMEWORKS
Accessibility Standards & Technologies
Digital accessibility involves more than a single standard or tool. A11yGo is designed around recognized accessibility guidance, standards and web technologies to help organizations improve the accessibility of their digital services.
TAXONOMY ARCHITECTURE
Understanding Accessibility Standards, Technologies & Regulations
Digital accessibility frameworks span technical guidelines, web specifications, and legal mandates across jurisdictions.
Accessibility Guidelines & Standards
Technical specifications defining how web content and ICT should be authored to be accessible.
- WCAG 2.1: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (AA)
- WCAG 2.2: Latest W3C recommendation criteria
- IS 17802: Indian ICT Accessibility Standard
- EN 301 549: European ICT technical requirements
- JIS X 8341-3: Japanese web accessibility standard
- ISO/IEC 40500: International WCAG 2.0 reference
Web Accessibility Technologies
Technical tools and markup specifications used to implement accessibility in browser environments.
- WAI-ARIA: Accessible Rich Internet Applications
- Semantic HTML5: Native landmark & element structure
- Keyboard Navigation: Tab index & focus indicators
- Assistive Tech Compatibility: Screen reader API trees
Regulatory & Legal Requirements
Statutory legislation and legal frameworks establishing digital accessibility obligations.
- European Accessibility Act (EAA): EU legislation
- Section 508: U.S. Federal ICT regulation
- ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act (Civil Rights)
- Equality Act 2010: UK statutory requirement
- AODA: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
WCAG 2.1 — Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Developed by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), WCAG 2.1 covers a wide range of recommendations for making web content more accessible to users with visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.
The 4 Principles of Accessibility (POUR):
Perceivable
Information and interface components must be presented in ways users can perceive. This includes providing text alternatives for visual content, captions for audio, and adaptable content presentation.
- Alternative text for images and graphics
- Transcripts and captions for multimedia
- Audio descriptions for video content
- Sign language interpretation options
Operable
User interface components and navigation must be operable through various methods. All functionality should be accessible via keyboard, with sufficient time provided for interactions.
- Full keyboard accessibility
- No keyboard traps
- Adequate time limits for tasks
- Control over animations and moving content
Understandable
Information and operation of the user interface must be clear and comprehensible. Content should be readable with predictable navigation and input assistance.
- Clear, simple language
- Consistent navigation patterns
- Input error identification and suggestions
- Logical content organization
Robust
Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by various user agents, including assistive technologies. This ensures compatibility across different platforms and devices.
- Compatibility with current/future tools
- Valid markup and coding standards
- Cross-browser functionality
- Assistive technology support
WCAG 2.2 — Latest W3C Recommendation
WCAG 2.2 extends WCAG 2.1 by introducing additional success criteria focused on improving accessibility for users with cognitive or learning disabilities, users with low vision, and users on mobile devices.
Implementation Guidance: WCAG 2.2 builds upon WCAG 2.1. Organizations should determine which version and conformance requirements apply to their specific project, contract or jurisdiction.
IS 17802 — Indian Accessibility Standard
Formulated under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), IS 17802 specifies accessibility requirements for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services in India, providing guidelines for public and private sector digital inclusion.
Note: Detailed requirement mapping should be verified against the applicable official edition of the standard and verified through appropriate evaluation methodologies.
WAI-ARIA — Accessible Rich Internet Applications
WAI-ARIA is a W3C technical specification that defines a way to make web content and web applications more accessible to people with disabilities, especially dynamic content and advanced user interface controls developed with HTML, JavaScript, and related technologies.
Roles & Landmarks
Defines semantic types for elements (e.g. dialog, navigation, banner, toolbar).
States & Properties
Communicates dynamic state changes to assistive tech (aria-expanded, aria-hidden, aria-live).
EN 301 549
European standard specifying accessibility requirements for ICT products and services. Mandated by the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and Web Accessibility Directive. Maps to WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
Section 508
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act establishes accessibility requirements for covered U.S. federal information and communication technology. Applies to federal agencies and contractors.
FEATURE ARCHITECTURE MAPPING
A11yGo Capabilities & Standards Considerations
How A11yGo assistive controls align with recognized accessibility guidelines and web technologies.
| A11yGo Feature | Accessibility Capability | Relevant WCAG Criterion | IS 17802 Reference | Verification Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text Resizing | Allows users to scale text size dynamically | 1.4.4 Resize Text | Verified ICT Text Requirement | Product Testing & DOM Verification |
| Contrast Controls | Applies high-contrast & dark mode themes | 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) | Verified Color Ratio Requirement | Automated & Visual Verification |
| Keyboard Focus Outline | Provides high-visibility focus indicators | 2.4.7 Focus Visible | Verified Focus Requirement | Manual Keyboard Navigation |
| Reading & Speech Support | Text-to-speech audio reading assistance | 3.1.2 Language of Parts | Verified Audio Output | Assistive Tech Compatibility |
| Motion Reduction | Stops animations and decorative motion | 2.3.3 Animation from Interactions | Verified Motion Requirement | Browser Interaction Test |
Assessment & Conformance Disclaimer
This website and A11yGo's automated assessment tools identify accessibility issues that can be detected through automated technical checks. Automated testing cannot identify every accessibility issue and does not replace manual evaluation, assistive technology testing or testing with people with disabilities.
References to WCAG, IS 17802, EN 301 549, and other standards are provided to help organizations understand relevant accessibility considerations. They should not be interpreted as certification or a legal determination of compliance.