WCAG Compliance Made Simple: A Plain-Language Guide

Web accessibility often gets reduced to a checklist — run a scan, fix a few errors, call it done. But compliance with accessibility laws, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(opens in a new tab) (WCAG), isn’t just about checking technical boxes. It’s about understanding how established guidelines translate into real-world experiences for the people using your digital content.

From the get-go, look at compliance as a bridge between standards and usability. It’s a commitment to your users that your website works for them — not just in theory, but in practice.

If you’re wondering what WCAG compliance looks like in a day-to-day business context and how it differs from conformance, you’ve come to the right place. Below, you’ll learn how it differs from conformance, and explore evaluation criteria that could make or break it all.

What is WCAG Compliance?

WCAG compliance refers to aligning digital content with established accessibility requirements so that people with disabilities can use and interact with it effectively. It’s not just about passing automated tests, but about maintaining accessibility throughout the design and development process and in ongoing updates.

So, what should you do to begin your journey to WCAG compliance?

It starts here: Develop sustainable practices that ensure your website isn’t just meeting standards, but exceeding them on an ongoing basis. Focus your attention on more than just a checklist. It’s less about avoiding individual errors and more about ensuring equal access for all users as your site continues to change and evolve.

Why WCAG Compliance is Often Misunderstood

There are three common misconceptions about WCAG compliance:

1. “Compliance is a one-time project.” It’s actually an ongoing practice. Companies that are aware of WCAG requirements usually fall into two groups: those who view “becoming WCAG compliant” as a one-and-done project with an end date, and those who realize compliance is an ongoing standard that requires building accessibility into core operations. It’s companies that treat accessibility as an ongoing process, not only meeting compliance requirements but also providing a better, more accessible experience for their users over time.

2. “Compliance is a tool.” The “one-and-done” group may try to implement overlays or plugins to get closer to compliance, but they’re actually moving further away. These tools (like contrast toggles) can sometimes be helpful, but they won’t fix any core code issues or make your site compliant. Think of plugins and overlays like a band-aid solution — helpful, but not actually fixing the real “wound.”

3. “Compliance is guaranteed.” There’s no way to guarantee instant or permanent compliance, which is why organizations need to take a sustainable, ongoing approach to create digital content that’s accessible, compliant, and inclusive.

The bottom line: infusing accessibility considerations into your website’s DNA while identifying and addressing weak spots as soon as they come up streamlines your path to WCAG compliance and improves the user experience. 

However, it’s not as simple as checking a few boxes off a list.

How WCAG Compliance Is Typically Evaluated

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) will ensure you’re meeting web accessibility guidelines(opens in a new tab) by looking for records of your organization’s commitment to ongoing standards (like an Accessibility Statement or other documentation) to evaluate your site’s history of testing and improving over time.

W3C evaluates accessibility levels(opens in a new tab) using a combination of automated testing tools and manual review of a sample of your website’s pages to see how well you’re conforming to its standards.

The card reads "WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines" with lines leading to three options. The first reads, "Level A, Minimum." The second reads, "Level AA, Recommended." And the third reads, "Level AAA, Highest."

WCAG Compliance vs WCAG Guidelines

The simplest way to understand the difference between compliance and guidelines is to think of WCAG standards as fixed rules, while compliance is the game: the way in which you play by the rules.

If you look at the W3C website, you’ll notice they use the word “conformance” and not “compliance” in regard to WCAG standards. The standards are there to outline what to do, and conformance levels (A, AA, AAA) are categories that break down how accessible your site is for individuals with disabilities. Most accessibility laws, including the ADA, reinforce the standards in WCAG 2.2 Level AA as the benchmark for compliance.

Think about it this way: WCAG guidelines are like building codes. Compliance is how well the building is actually constructed and maintained. The rules of building the actual building don’t change (you still need walls, flooring, electricity, etc.), but how well you implement those standards (and how consistently you follow them over time) determines whether people can safely and comfortably use what you’ve built.

What’s the Difference between Conformance and Compliance? 

“Compliance” describes how well you meet legal requirements (like those set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)), while “conformance” is a term the W3C uses to refer to how well your site follows technical guidelines. You conform to the guidelines to achieve compliance with the law.

More specifically, you conform to WCAG standards to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

What WCAG Compliance Looks Like in Practice

To best adhere to WCAG standards now and in the future, here’s what your efforts should look like in practice:

Ongoing Improvements

WCAG compliance requires ongoing efforts, but to make this easier, you should build accessibility into your workflow as soon as possible. Rather than “fixing what’s broken”, the best way to comply with WCAG standards is to prevent breaks from happening in the first place. 

Monitoring Changes

Schedule regular website audits and monitor new content to prevent any new barriers that could prevent people from using your site effectively. You can use automated tools to scan for accessibility issues, but manual monitoring is the best way to verify changes and establish compliance.

Cross-Team Responsibility

Delegate compliance responsibilities among your team members. Developers, designers, and writers should all proactively ensure their work meets accessibility standards before a page or feature goes live.

Additionally, ensure there’s an accessible way for users to send feedback on your website, and implement a process to address reports promptly.

Turning Compliance into Action with AudioEye

WCAG compliance can feel complicated — overwhelming even. But it doesn’t have to be. With a clear approach and the right habits in place, it’s easily achievable. Think of it as small, deliberate, steady steps that add up. Building accessibility into design and development workflows. Implementing ongoing testing and monitoring. Bringing real users with disabilities to interact with your content. Doable steps that make it so everyone can actually use your site. 

The bottom line: You don’t have to do everything all at once. Instead, you need an approach that works best for your team and your users. 

AudioEye makes that plan easy. From our free Website Accessibility Checker to our Expert Audits, AudioEye helps you turn WCAG compliance from a far-off goal into something you can easily see and measure. With ongoing guidance and support in place, you can make deliberate, meaningful improvements, keep your site accessible as it grows, and know that every step forward makes your site better for everyone.