Is our product accessible to WCAG 2.2?

Questions CTOs ask

What is WCAG 2.2 and what conformance level should we target?

WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the W3C standard for web accessibility with three conformance levels: A (minimum), AA (recommended), and AAA (enhanced). Most organizations should target Level AA, which is the standard referenced by the ADA, Section 508, and the European Accessibility Act. Level AA covers essential requirements like color contrast ratios (4.5:1 minimum), keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and focus management. This screening tool is most complete at Level AA; it covers only a subset of Level AAA and prints its exact coverage alongside the score, so treat a clean result as a passed screening rather than as conformance.

What are the legal risks of poor web accessibility?

Web accessibility lawsuits have increased dramatically, with over 4,000 ADA-related digital accessibility lawsuits filed annually in the US alone. Companies face legal action under the ADA, state laws, and the European Accessibility Act (effective June 2025). Beyond legal risk, inaccessible websites exclude approximately 15% of the global population who live with disabilities, representing significant lost revenue. Proactive WCAG compliance is far less expensive than reactive remediation after a lawsuit.