Web accessibility for designers - Knowing The Best For You
Exploring WCAG 2.2: Digital Accessibility Rules, Conformance, and Best Practices
As web accessibility progresses, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have solidified as the global benchmark for building inclusive digital content. The latest update, WCAG 2.2, expands on earlier versions by implementing new compliance points designed to make web content more usable for people with disabilities. Whether you’re a creative professional, engineer, or business owner, understanding these guidelines is crucial to achieving conformance, reducing litigation risks, and ensuring inclusive usability.
What is WCAG 2.2 and Why It Matters
The WCAG 2.2 framework, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium, defines measurable benchmarks for digital content. It works towards bettering the accessibility of applications, software interfaces, and PDFs and documents for individuals with sight-related, auditory, cognitive, and movement limitations. Advancing from WCAG 2.1, this update adds nine more checkpoints that address mobile accessibility, touch navigation, and secure sign-in accessibility, among others.
The objective is to ensure that digital content remains visible and understandable, navigable, understandable, and technically reliable — the four key principles of accessibility known as POUR. By implementing these principles, organisations can optimise accessibility for everyone, not just users with disabilities.
Important WCAG 2.2 Criteria
To ensure conformance, developers and content creators must adhere to the new updated WCAG 2.2 standards. This checklist covers all existing WCAG 2.1 criteria, along with new requirements such as:
- Visible Focus Indicators (minimum indicator visibility)
- Dragging Movements (enabling alternate movement inputs)
- Accessible Authentication (providing accessible sign-in)
- Target Size (making interactive targets easily clickable)
Each of these criteria is designed to reduce challenges for users who rely on alternative input methods. Following this checklist during project creation and QA ensures a smoother path to formal conformance.
WCAG Color Contrast Rules
Color contrast is one of the most critical aspects of web accessibility. The WCAG colour compliance rules ensure that text and visual elements remain readable against background colours. For normal text, a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 is required, while large text (text above 18pt or 14pt bold) should meet at least three to one. Non-text elements such as UI elements, clickable elements, and focus indicators also require sufficient contrast to be easily distinguishable.
Proper colour contrast benefits not only users with sight difficulties but also those using devices outdoors. Designers should leverage accessibility checkers to verify compliance and ensure their visual choices enhance visibility.
WCAG Keyboard Usability
A fully accessible website must permit interaction through all interactive elements using only a non-mouse input. According to keyboard usability guidelines, all functions available via a mouse should also be operable through the keyboard. This means users should be able to use keyboard shortcuts to interact, and clearly see where the focus is at all times.
The new Focus Indicator criterion in WCAG 2.2 enhances this rule by specifying minimum visibility standards for focus indicators. Designers and developers should ensure that default focus rings remain visible, maintaining clarity for users who rely on assistive keyboards.
ADA vs WCAG: Understanding the Difference
While both the Americans with Disabilities Act and WCAG aim to ensure accessibility, they serve separate functions. The difference between ADA and WCAG lies in their nature — ADA is a civil rights law in the United States that guarantees accessibility rights, while WCAG is a technical standard used globally to achieve accessible digital content.
The ADA does not specify specific technical methods, which WCAG 2.2 explained is why accessibility assessors often reference WCAG as the practical standard for digital accessibility. In short, ADA provides the statutory foundation, and WCAG provides the technical path to conformance.
Professional WCAG Support
Many organisations turn to accessibility experts to ensure their websites and digital products meet accessibility standards. These services typically include compliance assessments, issue repair, UI/UX improvement, and maintenance audits. Professional accessibility experts use both AI-driven checkers and human evaluation to identify non-compliant elements and guide businesses towards full conformance with WCAG 2.2 at levels multiple compliance tiers.
Partnering with accessibility specialists not only helps avoid legal exposure but also boosts SEO performance. Accessibility is increasingly viewed as a component of sustainable digital practice.
Increasing ADA Legal Actions
The surge in web accessibility lawsuits related to inaccessible websites has underlined the urgent need for compliance. Businesses across industries — from retail and hospitality — have faced lawsuits for failing to provide accessible digital experiences. Plaintiffs often cite WCAG as the reference for determining accessibility violations.
Ensuring compliance through proactive reviews and proactive remediation can prevent costly litigation. The rise of latest accessibility lawsuits shows that courts are taking digital discrimination seriously, holding companies accountable for inaccessible design. This growing trend reinforces the importance of maintaining compliance as a preventative measure.
Find Accessibility Specialists
As demand for accessible design grows, more organisations are engaging WCAG compliance specialists. These professionals have expertise in conformance evaluation, universal design principles, and accessibility coding. Their expertise helps teams adopt accessible design from the earliest stages of development rather than treating it as an afterthought.
By collaborating with experienced accessibility consultants, companies can meet WCAG standards while promoting inclusion across their digital presence. These experts also coach design teams to maintain accessibility standards during product launches.
Designing for Inclusion
For designers, digital accessibility is not just about meeting technical standards — it’s about designing with empathy. Incorporating accessibility from the start simplifies compliance and elevates design quality for everyone. Designers should focus on logical navigation, readable fonts, sufficient colour contrast, and uniform layouts.
Accessibility should be seen as an core feature of the design process, not a limitation. In fact, accessible design improves creativity and functionality by making interfaces more user-friendly. As the WCAG 2.2 update reinforces, inclusivity is a sustained effort requiring awareness.
Building an Inclusive Digital Future
The evolution of WCAG standards symbolises a global commitment to digital inclusion. Understanding the WCAG 2.2 criteria, implementing visual clarity guidelines, and ensuring keyboard accessibility are fundamental steps towards achieving universal accessibility. Businesses that commit to professional accessibility solutions and work with WCAG consultants not only meet legal expectations but also enhance brand reputation.
As accessibility becomes a defining factor in digital quality, embracing WCAG 2.2 ensures that websites remain functional, compliant, and usable by all — regardless of ability. In this way, accessibility is not just a standard but a collective commitment that defines the future of the digital world.