The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the gold standard for making digital content accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. At the heart of WCAG are its success criteria, specific requirements that ensure websites are Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR). This post dives into what WCAG success criteria are, how they align with POUR principles, and practical steps to meet them, ensuring your website is inclusive and compliant with global standards like WCAG 2.2 and U.S.-specific requirements like Section 508.
Whether you’re a developer, designer, or federal contractor, understanding and applying these criteria will help you create websites that work for all users, from screen reader users to those navigating by keyboard.
What Are WCAG Success Criteria?
WCAG success criteria are measurable standards that define how to make web content accessible. Organized under the POUR principles, they’re split into three conformance levels:
Level A: Basic accessibility (e.g., alt text for images).
Level AA: Addresses common barriers (e.g., sufficient color contrast).
Level AAA: Highest accessibility, often for specialized audiences.
For example, WCAG 2.2 (ISO/IEC 40500, October 2025) includes 86 success criteria, with Level A criteria like 1.1.1 (non-text content) requiring alt text for images so screen readers can describe visuals. These criteria are globally recognized, translated into over 20 languages, and form the backbone of accessibility laws in regions like the EU, Canada, and the U.S. (where 26% of adults have disabilities, per CDC).
Aligning Success Criteria with POUR
The POUR principles guide WCAG’s success criteria, ensuring content is accessible to diverse users. Here’s how key
Level A criteria map to POUR:
Success Criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content): Provide alt text for images
Success Criterion 1.2.2 (Captions): Add captions to videos for deaf or hard-of-hearing users.
Success Criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard): Ensure all functionality is accessible via keyboard,
like tabbing through navigation menus, for users with motor impairments.
Success Criterion 3.3.2 (Labels or Instructions): Provide clear form labels
(e.g., <labelfor="email">Email:</label>)
to guide users, including those using assistive technologies.
Success Criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value): Use semantic HTML
(e.g., <buttonrole="button">Submit</button>)
to ensure compatibility with screen readers like NVDA.
By meeting these criteria, you create a website that’s inclusive and aligns with WCAG’s global standards.
Section 508 and POUR
In the U.S., Section 508 (updated 2017, part of the Rehabilitation Act) requires federal websites and ICT (e.g., PDFs, software) to meet WCAG 2.0 Level A/AA success criteria. For example, federal contractors must ensure alt text (1.1.1) and captions (1.2.2) are in place and document compliance via Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs). While WCAG’s POUR-based criteria apply globally, Section 508 narrows the focus to U.S. federal projects, making it a legal requirement for government work.
Practical Steps to Meet WCAG Success Criteria
To implement WCAG success criteria and stay true to POUR, follow these steps:
Add Alt Text (1.1.1, Perceivable): Ensure all images have descriptive alt text (e.g., ).
Test Keyboard Navigation (2.1.1, Operable): Use NVDA (nvaccess.org/download) to verify all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard.
Use Semantic HTML (4.1.2, Robust): Structure content with proper tags (e.g.,
Verify Section 508 Compliance: If working on federal projects, create a VPAT (section508.gov/sell/vpat) to document adherence to WCAG 2.0 Level A/AA.
These actions align your site with POUR and ensure compliance with both global and U.S. standards.
Compliance Checklist
Quick Actions
Test Level A criteria with WAVE (wave.webaim.org) for issues like missing alt text.
Check WCAG translations (w3.org/Translations) for global audiences.
Confirm Section 508 applicability for federal contracts.
Prepare a VPAT for Section 508 projects (section508.gov/sell/vpat).
Run a WAVE scan to catch Level A issues.
Test with NVDA for keyboard and screen reader compatibility.
Review Section508.gov for federal requirements.
Explore WCAG translations for multilingual support.
Conclusion
WCAG’s global reach makes it the foundation for accessible web design, with Level A criteria like alt text ensuring inclusivity worldwide. Section 508, focused on U.S. federal ICT, aligns with WCAG 2.0 Level A/AA to meet legal requirements. By integrating these standards, you can create websites that serve diverse audiences and comply with federal mandates. For more guidance, check our Knowledgebase FAQ “WCAG’s Global Reach and Section 508’s U.S. Focus” or contact our accessibility team for support.
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