WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance for Government Websites
Meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA requirements with comprehensive accessibility testing designed for government organizations.
Why WCAG 2.1 AA Matters for Government
Government websites serve all citizens including the 61 million Americans with disabilities
Democratic participation requires accessible government information and services
40% of government websites fail basic accessibility tests
Citizens cannot opt out of government services - accessibility is essential
WCAG 2.1 AA is the required standard for government digital services
WCAG 2.1 AA Requirements for Government
Accessible forms and applications
Permit applications, benefit forms, and government submissions must be fully accessible
Document accessibility
PDFs, reports, and official documents must be readable by assistive technology
Emergency information
Alerts and emergency communications must be immediately accessible to all
Service navigation
Finding and accessing government services must be possible for all users
Common WCAG 2.1 AA Issues in Government Websites
Issue
Permit and license applications not accessible
Solution
Rebuild application forms with proper labels, keyboard access, and error handling
Issue
Meeting minutes and official documents in scanned image PDFs
Solution
OCR and remediate legacy documents; use born-accessible workflows going forward
Issue
Emergency alerts not accessible to screen reader users
Solution
Ensure alert systems use proper ARIA live regions and multiple notification channels
Issue
Government service portals with complex inaccessible navigation
Solution
Simplify navigation structure and implement skip links and proper landmarks
How A11yScan Helps Government Meet WCAG 2.1 AA
WCAG 2.1 AA Testing
Automated testing against all WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria relevant to government.
Government Focus
Industry-specific testing profiles targeting common government accessibility issues.
Compliance Reports
Generate WCAG 2.1 AA compliance documentation and remediation roadmaps.
Continuous Monitoring
24/7 monitoring to maintain WCAG 2.1 AA compliance as your government site evolves.
Frequently Asked Questions: Government WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
What accessibility standard do government websites need to meet?
Federal websites must meet Section 508 (which references WCAG 2.0 AA, being updated to 2.1). State and local government websites must meet WCAG 2.1 AA under ADA Title II.
How are government websites tested for accessibility?
Government sites should undergo both automated testing (catching about 30% of issues) and manual testing with screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and ideally users with disabilities.
What about legacy government systems?
Legacy systems must be made accessible or replaced. Many agencies create accessible front-ends for legacy back-ends, prioritize high-impact services, and maintain remediation roadmaps.
Other Compliance Standards for Government
Government WCAG 2.2
Ensure your government website meets WCAG 2.2 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Section 508Government Section 508
Ensure your government website meets Section 508 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
ADA ComplianceGovernment ADA Compliance
Ensure your government website meets ADA Compliance accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
EN 301 549Government EN 301 549
Ensure your government website meets EN 301 549 accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance for Other Industries
Healthcare WCAG 2.1 AA
Ensure your healthcare website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
FinanceFinance WCAG 2.1 AA
Ensure your finance website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
E-commerceE-commerce WCAG 2.1 AA
Ensure your e-commerce website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
EducationEducation WCAG 2.1 AA
Ensure your education website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
LegalLegal WCAG 2.1 AA
Ensure your legal website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Real EstateReal Estate WCAG 2.1 AA
Ensure your real estate website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Ready to Achieve WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance for Your Government Website?
Start with a free accessibility scan and see exactly where your government site stands with WCAG 2.1 AA requirements.