Glossary term
WCAG 2.1 AA Accessibility
WCAG 2.1 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the global baseline standard for accessible web content, covering perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust criteria that ensure people with disabilities can use a website — and that mission-driven sites in particular are widely treated as required.
WCAG 2.1 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the global baseline standard for accessible web content, covering perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust criteria that ensure people with disabilities can use a website — and that mission-driven sites in particular are widely treated as required.
What AA actually requires
- Semantic HTML so assistive technology can interpret structure.
- Color contrast ratios of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.
- Full keyboard navigability with visible focus indicators.
- Meaningful alt text on images that convey information.
- Form labels, error messages, and input help that screen readers can announce.
- Video captions, audio transcripts, and time-based media alternatives.
- Content reflowing without horizontal scrolling at 320 CSS pixels wide.
Why nonprofits often face it first
Federally funded organizations and recipients of public dollars often inherit accessibility requirements through grant terms (Section 504, Section 508, ADA Title II, Title III). Mission-driven orgs serving disabled communities or older audiences have additional, sometimes stricter expectations from the people they serve.
How Hello World handles it
WCAG 2.1 AA is the baseline for every build, not a paid add-on. Audits happen at each milestone — automated tooling plus screen reader and keyboard testing — and the result is documented for grant reporting and accessibility statements.