WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Checker & Accessibility Audit
Test your website against WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria. The most widely adopted web accessibility standard worldwide.
What is Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA?
WCAG 2.1 AA is the international standard for web accessibility, published by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative. Level AA is the conformance level required by most laws and regulations, including ADA compliance in the United States and the EN 301 549 standard in Europe. WCAG 2.1 added 17 new success criteria to WCAG 2.0, with particular focus on mobile accessibility, people with low vision, and people with cognitive and learning disabilities.
Timeline
WCAG 2.1 was published in June 2018. Organizations should already be compliant.
Conformance Levels
Level A
Minimum level of conformance. Addresses the most basic accessibility barriers. 30 success criteria.
Level AA
Recommended conformance level. Addresses the most common barriers for disabled users. 20 additional success criteria.
Level AAA
Highest level of conformance. Not required as some content cannot meet all AAA criteria. 28 additional success criteria.
Key WCAG 2.1 AA Requirements
Text alternatives for non-text content (images, icons, charts)
Captions and transcripts for audio/video content
Content adaptable to different presentations without losing meaning
Sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
All functionality available from keyboard
Users have enough time to read and use content
No content that could cause seizures (flashing content)
Navigation mechanisms to help users find content
Text readable and understandable
Content appears and operates in predictable ways
Help users avoid and correct mistakes in forms
Content compatible with assistive technologies
Who Must Comply with WCAG 2.1 AA?
Federal agencies (Section 508 references WCAG)
State and local governments (ADA Title II)
Private businesses open to public (ADA Title III)
Educational institutions (Section 504, ADA)
Organizations receiving federal funding
EU public sector bodies (EN 301 549)
Any organization seeking to avoid accessibility lawsuits
Penalties for Non-Compliance
ADA lawsuits can result in settlements of $10,000-$100,000+
Class action lawsuits in the millions for large organizations
DOJ consent decrees with ongoing monitoring requirements
Loss of federal contracts for Section 508 violations
Reputational damage and negative publicity
State-specific penalties vary by jurisdiction
How A11yScan Helps with WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Automated Testing
Comprehensive automated testing against all WCAG 2.1 AA requirements
Guided Testing
Manual testing workflows for criteria requiring human judgment
VPAT Generation
Generate WCAG 2.1 AA compliance documentation and VPATs
Monitoring
Continuous monitoring to maintain WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
Frequently Asked Questions: WCAG 2.1 AA
What is the difference between WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1?
WCAG 2.1 extends WCAG 2.0 with 17 new success criteria. These additions focus on mobile accessibility (orientation, touch targets), low vision users (reflow, text spacing), and cognitive disabilities (timeouts, animations). WCAG 2.1 AA includes all WCAG 2.0 AA criteria plus the new additions.
Is WCAG 2.1 AA legally required?
While WCAG itself is a voluntary guideline, it's referenced by laws requiring accessibility. The DOJ has consistently interpreted ADA to require WCAG 2.1 AA. Section 508 directly references WCAG. The EU's EN 301 549 incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA.
How many WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria are there?
WCAG 2.1 AA includes 50 success criteria: 30 at Level A and 20 at Level AA. This represents all Level A and AA criteria, which is the standard conformance target for most organizations.
Can automated tools test all WCAG 2.1 criteria?
No, automated tools can fully test approximately 30% of WCAG criteria. Another 30% can be partially automated with human review. The remaining 40% require manual testing. A11yScan combines automated testing with guided manual testing workflows.
What does WCAG 2.1 AA mean for mobile websites?
WCAG 2.1 added specific mobile-focused criteria including orientation (1.3.4), identify input purpose (1.3.5), reflow (1.4.10), non-text contrast (1.4.11), text spacing (1.4.12), and content on hover/focus (1.4.13). Mobile sites must meet all applicable criteria.
Related Compliance Standards
WCAG 2.2
Prepare for WCAG 2.2 with our comprehensive compliance checker. Test new success criteria for authentication, dragging, and focus.
Section 508
Test your website against Section 508 requirements for federal agencies and contractors. Automated testing with VPAT support.
ADA Compliance
Test your website for ADA compliance. Avoid costly lawsuits with comprehensive accessibility testing against WCAG standards.
EN 301 549
Test your website against European accessibility standard EN 301 549. Required for public sector and expanding to private sector.
WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance by Industry
Explore industry-specific WCAG 2.1 AA compliance requirements, common issues, and remediation guidance.
Healthcare WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your healthcare website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreFinance WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your finance website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreE-commerce WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your e-commerce website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreEducation WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your education website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreGovernment WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your government website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreLegal WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your legal website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreReal Estate WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your real estate website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreInsurance WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your insurance website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreTravel WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Ensure your travel website meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. Industry-specific compliance testing, remediation guidance, and monitoring.
Learn moreStart Your WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Journey
Get a free accessibility scan and see where you stand with WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
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