Why WCAG Guidelines Matter for Your Website
As a CMS user and website owner, one of your key responsibilities is ensuring your digital content is accessible to all users—regardless of ability. This isn't just a best practice; it’s an ethical imperative and, in many cases, a legal requirement. That’s where the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) come in.
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of internationally recognized standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Their goal is to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities, including:
Visual impairments (e.g., blindness, low vision, color blindness)
Hearing impairments
Motor skill challenges
Cognitive and learning disabilities
WCAG is organized into four core principles, often remembered by the acronym POUR:
Perceivable – Information and user interface components must be presented in ways users can perceive.
Operable – Navigation and functionality must be usable through various means (e.g., keyboard only).
Understandable – Content must be clear and consistent.
Robust – Content must work reliably across technologies, including assistive tools.
Why Should You Care?
1. Legal Compliance
Many countries and regions have adopted WCAG standards into law. In the U.S., for example, WCAG is often used as the benchmark for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Non-compliance can lead to costly lawsuits, reputational damage, and the need for urgent retroactive fixes.
2. Inclusivity and Reach
An estimated 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with some form of disability. By building an accessible website, you’re opening your content to a broader audience and serving all your users equitably.
3. SEO and Performance Benefits
Many accessibility best practices—like adding alt text to images and using semantic HTML—also benefit search engine optimization (SEO) and mobile responsiveness, making your site more discoverable and user-friendly for everyone.
Key Considerations for Staying WCAG Compliant
If you're managing your website through a CMS, here are practical things you should consistently monitor:
1. Use Clear, Structured Content
Use proper heading levels (
H1,H2, etc.) to organize your pages.Break up long blocks of text with subheadings, bullets, and whitespace.
Avoid jargon or overly complex language when possible.
2. Provide Text Alternatives
Every image must include meaningful
alt text.Videos should have captions and, when possible, transcripts.
3. Ensure Keyboard Navigation
All interactive elements—menus, buttons, forms—should be usable with just a keyboard. Test your site periodically by tabbing through it.
4. Maintain Color Contrast
Text should have sufficient contrast against its background to ensure readability. There are online tools available to check contrast ratios.
5. Use Descriptive Link Text
Avoid generic links like “click here.” Instead, use phrases that describe the content destination, e.g., “Download our accessibility checklist.”
6. Be Mindful of Forms
Label every input clearly.
Provide helpful error messages and validation cues.
Ensure screen readers can announce form instructions and feedback.
7. Test Regularly
Use automated accessibility checkers (like WAVE, Axe, or Lighthouse) alongside manual testing. Don’t just rely on tools—test your site with real users when possible.
Final Thoughts
Maintaining WCAG compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. As you continue to add content and evolve your site, it's vital to build accessibility into your workflow.
At Speak Creative, we’re here to support you in meeting these guidelines and ensuring your digital presence is welcoming to everyone. We can help you by providing repeated scanning services to ensure your website remains compliant. We can also work through any issues that scans discover. Let us know how we can help you!