Overview of WCAG Principles
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to provide a global standard for digital accessibility. WCAG is organized around four core principles, often abbreviated as POUR:
- Perceivable – Content must be presented in ways users can perceive (e.g., providing alt text for images, captions for videos).
- Operable – Users must be able to interact with and navigate content (e.g., keyboard navigability, logical tab orders).
- Understandable – Content must be clear and predictable (e.g., consistent navigation, readable language).
- Robust – Content must work across current and future technologies, including screen readers and other assistive tools.
Summary of Level AA Requirements
Level AA is the minimum compliance standard for public institutions under federal regulations. Examples of WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements include:
- Ensuring text contrast ratios meet readability standards
- Providing text alternatives for non-text content (e.g., images, icons)
- Enabling full keyboard navigation
- Making links descriptive and unique
- Providing consistent navigation and structure across pages
- Avoiding content that triggers seizures or physical reactions
- Supporting reflow and zooming for responsive mobile accessibility
- Ensuring accessible error identification and form instructions
App State will evaluate all digital materials — including websites, instructional documents, applications, and third-party platforms — against these standards.
This effort is guided by the standards outlined in: