Resources
Accessibility Knowledge Center
Free guides, tools, and educational content to help you understand and implement digital accessibility.
Procurement
VPAT, ACR, and procurement questions
Short answers for the moment a deal is blocked by an accessibility requirement. The service itself is on the VPAT / ACR page.
VPAT vs ACR: what is the difference?
The template, the completed report, and the four editions buyers ask for.
How long does a VPAT take?
Ranges by product size, what slows testing down, and what you can do to speed it up.
A customer asked for a VPAT. What now?
What to reply today, what not to promise, and what to gather before engaging anyone.
Why self-authored VPATs get rejected
The six-item checklist reviewers run before they read a single criterion.
Answering the accessibility questionnaire in an RFP
The questions that recur, how to answer each one, and the standing answer.
Sample Accessibility Conformance Report
An anonymized ACR in the VPAT 2.5 WCAG edition layout, rendered as accessible HTML tables.
Learn
Accessibility Guides
Comprehensive guides to help you understand and implement accessibility best practices.
Introduction to Web Accessibility
Learn the fundamentals of web accessibility, why it matters, and how to get started on your accessibility journey.
WCAG 2.2 Compliance Checklist
A comprehensive checklist covering all WCAG 2.2 Level A and AA success criteria with practical examples.
Writing Accessible Content
Best practices for creating accessible written content, including headings, links, alt text, and plain language.
ARIA Deep Dive
Master ARIA attributes and learn when (and when not) to use them for complex interactive components.
Accessible Forms Design
Create forms that work for everyone with proper labels, error handling, and keyboard navigation.
Testing with Screen Readers
Learn to test your website with NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack like an expert.
ADA Website Compliance
Who the ADA covers, what Title II and Title III require of websites, and which WCAG version each regulator actually names.
ADA Title II Deadlines
The DOJ rule for state and local government: WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the April 2027 and 2028 compliance dates, and what to do first.
European Accessibility Act
Who the EAA applies to, which products and services are in scope, and how EN 301 549 translates it into a testable standard.
Tools
Recommended Accessibility Tools
The tools used day to day in audit and remediation work. All are free or low cost, and all are worth learning.
WAVE
Browser extension for visual accessibility feedback. Great for quick checks and learning.
wave.webaim.orgaxe DevTools
Powerful browser extension for developers. Integrates with your development workflow.
deque.com/axeColour Contrast Analyser
Desktop app for checking color contrast ratios against WCAG requirements.
tpgi.comNVDA Screen Reader
Free, open-source screen reader for Windows. Essential for accessibility testing.
nvaccess.orgUnderstanding WCAG
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standard for web accessibility. They're organized around four principles known as POUR.
View Official WCAGPerceivable
Information must be presentable in ways users can perceive.
Operable
Interface components must be operable by all users.
Understandable
Information and UI operation must be understandable.
Robust
Content must work with current and future technologies.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is web accessibility?
Web accessibility means designing and developing websites so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with them. This includes people with visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.
Is accessibility legally required?
In many jurisdictions, yes. In the US, the ADA applies to websites of businesses open to the public. Government websites must comply with Section 508. The EU has the European Accessibility Act, and many countries have similar regulations. Even where not legally mandated, accessibility is increasingly expected.
What's the difference between WCAG A, AA, and AAA?
WCAG has three conformance levels. Level A is the minimum, Level AA is the standard most organizations target (and what most laws reference), and Level AAA is the highest level with the strictest criteria. Most sites aim for AA conformance.
How much does accessibility cost?
Costs vary widely based on your current state, site complexity, and goals. However, building accessibility in from the start costs far less than retrofitting. Studies show accessible sites often have lower maintenance costs and better SEO performance, providing ROI beyond compliance.
Can automated tools catch all accessibility issues?
No. Automated tools typically catch only 25-35% of accessibility issues. They're great for finding obvious errors but can't evaluate things like whether alt text is meaningful or if content makes logical sense. Manual testing by experts and users with disabilities is essential.
Reference
Accessibility Glossary
Key terms you'll encounter when working on accessibility.
Alt Text
Alternative text that describes images for screen reader users and when images fail to load.
ARIA
Accessible Rich Internet Applications - attributes that enhance accessibility of dynamic content.
Assistive Technology
Hardware or software that helps people with disabilities use computers (e.g., screen readers).
Color Contrast
The difference in luminance between foreground and background colors, measured as a ratio.
Focus Indicator
Visual indication showing which element currently has keyboard focus.
Screen Reader
Software that reads screen content aloud for users who are blind or have low vision.
Semantic HTML
Using HTML elements according to their intended purpose to convey meaning to assistive tech.
Skip Link
A link that allows keyboard users to skip repetitive content like navigation.
VPAT
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template - document reporting a product's accessibility conformance.
Get deadline updates
Occasional email when a compliance deadline moves or a standard changes — the AODA reporting cycle, the DOJ Title II dates, EAA enforcement. Not a monthly newsletter, and never more than a few times a year. Opt in with the checkbox on the contact form.
Contact and opt inUnsubscribe any time. Read the privacy policy.