Standards define what it means to make something accessible, with testable criteria or rules. The international standard for digital accessibility is called the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
U-M currently uses WCAG version 2.1, level AA (WCAG 2.1 AA) as our internal standard for digital accessibility. This is in line with federal regulations.
WCAG
The WCAG standard is regularly updated based on research with users with a range of disabilities, access needs, and technologies. WCAG is organized into four major principles, and many individual rules or criteria. Learn more about WCAG from W3C.
Testing and Procurement
When testing for digital accessibility, standards provide a consistent set of criteria to test and report on. Accessibility testers at U-M refer directly to WCAG 2.1 AA, or to simplified checklists based on the standard.
Technology vendors are expected to provide digital products to U-M that meet WCAG 2.1 AA, and this is required in contractual agreements between U-M and the vendor.
Other Standards
WCAG can be applied to digital content other than websites, including documents and software. It is a flexible and consistent standard for almost all use cases. In some special use cases, you might refer to other digital accessibility standards:
- EPUB Accessibility (W3C) for electronic books
- Section 508 (US Gov) for hardware and software