ADA Compliance Guide

WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Checklist

WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard referenced by ADA regulations for web accessibility. This checklist covers every success criterion you need to meet, organized by the four WCAG principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.

Perceivable — Content Must Be Presentable

All non-text content needs text alternatives (alt text for images, captions for video, transcripts for audio). Content must be adaptable — it should make sense when linearized or when CSS is disabled. Text must have a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Users must be able to resize text up to 200% without loss of content. Don't use images of text when actual text can achieve the same purpose.

Operable — Interface Must Be Navigable

All functionality must be available via keyboard. Users must have enough time to read and interact with content — no time limits without the ability to extend. Don't design content that could cause seizures (no flashing more than 3 times per second). Provide clear navigation: skip links, descriptive page titles, logical focus order, and link text that describes the destination.

Understandable — Content Must Be Readable

Set the language of the page in HTML. If content switches languages, mark those sections. Navigation must be consistent across pages. Components that look the same must behave the same. Forms must have labels, error identification must be specific, and error suggestions must be provided when possible.

Robust — Content Must Work with Assistive Tech

Use valid HTML with proper opening/closing tags. All UI components must have accessible names and roles. Status messages must be programmatically announced without receiving focus. Your site must work with current and future assistive technologies.

How to Test Your Site

Start with an automated scan using ADA CodeFix to catch the majority of testable violations. Then perform manual testing: navigate your entire site using only a keyboard, test with a screen reader (NVDA or VoiceOver), and check color contrast with a tool. Automated tools catch about 30-50% of issues — manual testing is essential for complete coverage.

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