What is WCAG 2.2 in simple terms?

WCAG 2.2 is the current global standard for website accessibility, published by the W3C. It defines testable criteria organized under 4 principles (perceivable, operable, understandable, robust) and 3 conformance levels (A, AA, AAA). Most laws and lawsuits reference Level AA.

What changed from WCAG 2.1 to 2.2?

WCAG 2.2 added 9 new success criteria focused on cognitive disabilities and mobile: minimum target size (24px), focus appearance, redundant entry, accessible authentication (no more puzzle CAPTCHAs), and dragging alternatives.

Which WCAG level does my business need?

Level AA is the legal and commercial standard — referenced by the ADA (US), the European Accessibility Act, and virtually all accessibility lawsuits. Level A is too weak, Level AAA is aspirational for most content.

Can I be sued for an inaccessible website?

Yes. Thousands of ADA lawsuits are filed yearly in the US over inaccessible websites, and the EU Accessibility Act (enforceable from June 2025) extends obligations across Europe. E-commerce, SaaS, and public-facing sites are the most common targets.

WCAG 2.2 Explained for Business Owners (No Jargon, Just What Matters)

If you own a website, WCAG 2.2 is the rulebook that decides whether 1 in 6 of your visitors can actually use it — and increasingly, whether you get sued. This guide translates the technical standard into business language: what it is, what changed, what level you need, and the cheapest path to compliance. Start with a free Scanly audit, which flags accessibility gaps alongside SEO, speed, and security. Deeper references: our WCAG 2.2 compliance guide and accessibility checklist.

What WCAG actually is (30 seconds)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, published by the W3C, are the global standard for accessible websites. Version 2.2 (October 2023) is current. Think of it as a building code: testable pass/fail criteria your site either meets or doesn't — and courts, regulators, and enterprise procurement departments all point to it.

The 4 principles, in business terms

1. Perceivable

Everyone can sense your content — text alternatives for images, captions for video, enough color contrast, resizable text.

Business example: A blind customer using a screen reader hears your product descriptions because every image has alt text.

2. Operable

Everyone can use your site — full keyboard navigation, no time traps, no seizure-triggering flashes, clear focus indicators.

Business example: A customer with a motor disability completes checkout using only the Tab and Enter keys.

3. Understandable

Everyone can comprehend it — readable language, predictable navigation, forms that explain errors clearly.

Business example: A mistyped card number shows "Card number needs 16 digits" instead of a cryptic "Error 422".

4. Robust

Your site works with assistive technology — valid markup, proper roles and labels that screen readers understand.

Business example: Your menu announces itself as a menu (not a pile of links) to every screen reader on the market.

Levels A, AA, AAA — you need AA

Level	What it means	Verdict
A	Bare minimum (30 criteria)	Not enough — still excludable, still suable
AA	The standard (55 criteria)	✅ Your target — what laws require
AAA	Gold-plated (86 criteria)	Aspirational — not required anywhere

What's new in 2.2 (the 9 criteria that bite)

Minimum target size (24×24px): tiny icon buttons now explicitly fail.
Focus appearance: keyboard focus must be clearly visible — no more invisible outlines.
Accessible authentication: no more "prove you're human" puzzles; password managers and copy-paste must work.
Redundant entry: don't ask for the same info twice in one flow.
Dragging alternatives: every drag action (sliders, sortable lists) needs a click/tap alternative.

The business case in numbers

Market: ~16% of the global population lives with significant disability — excluded users are lost revenue.
Legal: thousands of US ADA suits yearly plus EU Accessibility Act enforcement since June 2025.
SEO bonus: alt text, headings, transcripts, and clean markup all feed Google's understanding of your pages.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do accessibility overlay widgets make me compliant?

No — overlays are widely criticized, don't fix underlying code, and have themselves been cited in lawsuits. Fix the source issues instead; use a scan to find them.

How long does reaching AA take?

For a typical small-business site, the common issues (alt text, contrast, labels, headings) take days, not months. Complex web apps take longer — prioritize user journeys (signup, checkout) first.

Conclusion

WCAG 2.2 AA is the standard your customers, regulators, and Google all expect. Learn the four principles, target AA, fix the new 2.2 criteria early, and audit regularly with our accessibility improvement guide.