Understanding WCAG 2.2: What's New and How to Prepare

Introduction to WCAG 2.2

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 builds on the foundation of WCAG 2.1, adding new success criteria to address additional barriers for people with disabilities. Released in October 2023, WCAG 2.2 maintains backward compatibility with previous versions while introducing nine new success criteria across levels A, AA, and AAA.

For organizations already familiar with WCAG 2.1, the transition to 2.2 should be relatively straightforward. However, understanding the new requirements and their implications is essential for maintaining compliance and creating truly inclusive digital experiences.

Key Changes in WCAG 2.2

WCAG 2.2 introduces several new success criteria, including:

• 2.4.11 Focus Appearance (AA): Ensures that keyboard focus indicators are clearly visible with sufficient contrast and size. This helps users who navigate with keyboards to easily track their position on the page.
• 2.5.7 Dragging Movements (AA): Ensures that functionality that uses dragging movements can be operated by alternative inputs like single pointer activation. This benefits users with motor disabilities who may struggle with precise movements.
• 2.5.8 Target Size (AA): Ensures that interactive elements are large enough (at least 24x24 pixels) to be easily activated. This helps users with motor disabilities and those using touch screens.
• 3.2.6 Consistent Help (A): Requires that help mechanisms (like contact information or human assistance) appear in the same relative order on all pages where they appear. This helps users find help more easily.
• 3.3.7 Redundant Entry (A): Requires that information previously entered by the user is either auto-populated or available for the user to select. This reduces the burden on users with cognitive disabilities.
• 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (AA): Ensures that cognitive function tests (like remembering passwords) are not the only way to authenticate, unless the test is essential for security. This helps users with cognitive disabilities.

How to Prepare for WCAG 2.2

To prepare for WCAG 2.2, organizations should:

1. Review the new success criteria: Understand what's new in WCAG 2.2 and how it affects your digital properties. Pay special attention to the Level A and AA criteria, which are typically considered the baseline for compliance.
2. Audit existing websites and applications: Conduct a thorough audit of your digital properties against the new criteria. Identify areas that need improvement and prioritize them based on impact and effort.
3. Update design systems and development practices: Incorporate the new requirements into your design systems, component libraries, and development practices. This ensures that new projects automatically meet the updated standards.
4. Train teams on the new requirements: Ensure that designers, developers, content creators, and QA teams understand the new criteria and how to implement them. Regular training sessions and resources can help maintain awareness.
5. Develop a remediation plan: Create a plan to address any issues identified during the audit. Prioritize fixes based on severity, impact on users, and alignment with business goals.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Implementing WCAG 2.2 may present some challenges, but with the right approach, they can be overcome:

• Focus Appearance: Ensure that focus indicators are clearly visible by using high-contrast colors, outlines, or background changes. Avoid relying solely on color to indicate focus.
• Dragging Movements: Provide alternative methods for drag operations, such as buttons to move items up/down or a text field to enter a specific position.
• Target Size: Design interactive elements with sufficient size (at least 24x24 pixels) and adequate spacing between them to prevent accidental activation.
• Accessible Authentication: Offer alternative authentication methods, such as WebAuthn, magic links, or one-time codes, in addition to traditional passwords.

Conclusion

WCAG 2.2 represents an important step forward in making the web more accessible to everyone. By understanding and implementing these new guidelines, organizations can create digital experiences that are more inclusive, usable, and compliant with evolving standards.

Remember that accessibility is not just about compliance—it's about ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access and use your digital products effectively. By embracing WCAG 2.2, you're not only meeting legal requirements but also demonstrating a commitment to inclusive design and user experience.