Understanding Website Accessibility Laws and How to Meet Them

WCAG Guidelines: The Core Of Accessibility Compliance

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) offer a global framework for making web content accessible. Developed by W3C, they are referenced in most national and international accessibility laws.

Key principles of WCAG:

• Perceivable: All users can recognize and interpret content
• Operable: Navigation is possible with a keyboard or other input tools
• Understandable: Content and navigation are predictable and readable
• Robust: Compatible with assistive tools and future technologies

Compliance levels:

• Level A: Basic support
• Level AA: Standard for legal compliance
• Level AAA: Advanced accessibility

WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 extend support to mobile and cognitive disabilities. Most laws, including the ADA, Section 508, and India’s RPWD Act, require conformance to WCAG Level AA.

Global Digital Accessibility Laws

Countries worldwide have enacted accessibility laws to ensure digital platforms are usable by people with disabilities. While the specifics vary, most laws align with WCAG standards and are legally enforceable.

United States

Below are the key federal laws governing digital accessibility in the U.S.:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Applies to public and private sectors. WCAG is widely accepted in court as the expected technical standard.
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Requires federal agencies and contractors to meet WCAG 2.0 or higher.
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Mandates accessible digital services in federally funded programs.
• 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA): Covers communication tools like VoIP and video; requires captions and accessible interfaces.
• Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA): Requires airlines to make websites, apps, and kiosks accessible to passengers with disabilities.

India

India enforces digital accessibility through national disability legislation and technical guidelines. Below are the key regulations:

• Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016: Applies to public and private organizations. Requires accessible websites, support for screen readers, captions, and alt text.
• Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW): Mandates WCAG-aligned standards for all central and state government digital platforms.

European Union

The EU enforces digital accessibility through two key directives. Member states are responsible for implementation and enforcement:

• European Accessibility Act (EAA): Applies to private digital services including e-commerce and banking.
• EU Web Accessibility Directive: Covers public-sector websites and apps. Requires WCAG 2.1 AA and public accessibility statements.

Canada

Canada has both federal and provincial laws to support digital accessibility. Below are the most widely enforced:

• Accessible Canada Act (ACA): Applies to federally regulated sectors. Requires WCAG 2.1 and public feedback mechanisms.
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA): Requires WCAG 2.0 AA for public and private entities in Ontario, with phased compliance deadlines.

United Kingdom

The UK enforces accessibility through anti-discrimination law and public-sector regulations. Here's a summary:

• Equality Act 2010: Applies to all service providers. WCAG is the expected standard to meet “reasonable adjustment” requirements.
• Public Sector Accessibility Regulations: Requires government bodies to meet WCAG 2.1 AA, maintain accessibility statements, and respond to user feedback.

Australia

Australia’s accessibility rules are covered under anti-discrimination law and interpreted through WCAG standards. Here's what applies:

• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992: Requires accessible digital services across sectors. Courts recognize WCAG as the baseline for compliance.

Israel

Israel mandates digital accessibility through civil rights law. Below is the main regulation:

• Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Law: Requires public and private digital platforms to follow national standards based on WCAG. Non-compliance may lead to fines or civil lawsuits.

Norway

Norway enforces digital accessibility across sectors. Here are the core legal requirements:

• Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act: Applies to both public and private entities. Requires WCAG 2.0 AA compliance for websites and apps. Though not part of the EU, Norway aligns with EU accessibility directives.
  

New Zealand

New Zealand’s laws require accessible digital experiences across sectors. Here's what applies:

• Human Rights Act: Covers both public and private organizations. Public-sector sites must follow the Government Web Accessibility Standard based on WCAG 2.1 AA.

Japan

Japan enforces digital accessibility under national disability law. Below is the applicable framework:

• Act for Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities: Requires public-facing digital services to meet JIS X 8341-3, based on WCAG 2.0 AA.

South Korea

South Korea requires accessibility for essential digital services. Below is the relevant law:

• Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities: Applies to public bodies and essential service providers. Requires WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, including screen reader support, keyboard access, and captioning.

Step-By-Step Guide To Achieving Compliance

Here’s how to build and maintain an accessible digital experience:

1. Audit your site: Use automated and manual testing to identify barriers
2. Fix high-priority issues: Address common WCAG failures such as contrast errors and missing labels
3. Test with assistive tech: Use screen readers and keyboard-only navigation to simulate real user behavior
4. Train your team: Educate developers, designers, and content creators on best practices
5. Monitor regularly: Retest after every major update to maintain ongoing compliance

Tools and Technologies That Support Accessibility Compliance

Achieving accessibility at scale requires tools that support every stage of the workflow, from design and development to testing and reporting. 

These tools help teams align with global standards like WCAG, ADA, Section 508, and AODA.

1. Automated Scanners: Axe, WAVE, and BrowserStack’s Workflow Analyzer help detect issues like missing alt text, low contrast, ARIA misuse, and heading structure errors during active testing.
2. Browser Extensions: Axe DevTools and Accessibility Toolkit offer fast in-browser checks, while BrowserStack supports assisted testing in live sessions for more contextual audits.
3. Screen Readers: NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack are essential for manual validation. These are available on real devices within BrowserStack’s cloud testing infrastructure.
4. CI/CD Integrations: Tools like pa11y enable automated accessibility checks within pipelines. BrowserStack supports similar integrations with real-time reporting and exportable dashboards.
5. Design Tools: Plugins like Stark for Figma help check contrast and alt text early. BrowserStack complements this with real-time validation during device-level testing.
6. Responsive and Dynamic Testing: BrowserStack supports SPAs, modals, and dynamic elements across 3,500+ device-browser combinations to ensure consistent breakpoint behavior.
7. PDF and Document Scanning: BrowserStack can also evaluate WCAG and PDF/UA compliance for non-web assets.
8. Monitoring and Reporting: Teams can run scheduled scans, compare historical data, export CSVs, and share audit-ready reports directly from BrowserStack’s dashboard.

BrowserStack also offers free accessibility testing. Teams can run unlimited scans and test up to five unique pages per scan with no setup or cost. This makes it easier to adopt accessibility early and maintain it throughout development.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Web Accessibility Laws

Non-compliance with website accessibility laws brings legal, financial, and reputational risks.

Key risks include:

• Lawsuits: 4,000+ ADA-related lawsuits were filed in the U.S. in 2023, often resulting in costly settlements.
• Regulatory Fines: Countries like India and Canada issue penalties for non-compliance. In 2024, India fined 90+ organizations under the RPWD Act.
• Lost Contracts: Vendors not meeting Section 508 or WCAG standards may be disqualified from government and enterprise deals.
• Brand Damage: Inaccessible sites erode public trust and may trigger negative media attention.
• Higher Fix Costs: Remediating post-launch is more expensive and time-consuming than building accessibly from the start.
• User Exclusion: Poor accessibility limits reach over 1 billion people globally with disabilities.

Best Practices To Maintain Accessibility

Accessibility is a continuous process. Following best practices helps teams stay compliant and inclusive.

• Plan for accessibility from the start of design and development
• Use semantic HTML and structured navigation
• Maintain color contrast ratios that support readability
• Add alt text to all meaningful images
• Ensure all features work with keyboard-only input
• Review and retest frequently, especially after content updates

Build accessibility into team workflows to avoid technical debt and compliance gaps.

Conclusion

Website accessibility is a legal and ethical requirement. Laws across regions now demand WCAG compliance to ensure equal access for users of all abilities.

Organizations prioritizing accessibility reduce legal risk, improve user satisfaction, and expand their reach.

BrowserStack provides the infrastructure and tools needed to build accessible digital experiences with confidence.