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Exploring WCAG 2.1 for Australian government services
Exploring WCAG 2.1 for Australian
government services
Accessibility Team at the DTA – 22 August 2018
Tags:
Accessibility (/taxonomy/term/10)
Since the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 were released in June we’ve
received questions about how to approach the development of government services to meet
these updated accessibility guidelines.
WCAG 2.1 was released by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) — the international
organisation that develops web standards — and includes 17 additional WCAG criteria.
The additional criteria address accessibility issues when using mobile technology, and ensures
services are able to meet the needs of people with low vision and those with cognitive and
learning disabilities. They also recognise specific areas of technology advancement and the
needs of more diverse users. This includes users who don’t speak English as a first language.
The DTA is exploring the new updates by testing our
Design System
(https://designsystem.gov.au/) and our beta website (https://beta.dta.gov.au/) against the
updated WCAG 2.1 AA criteria. We suggest other government agencies do the same, and we
will use what we learn to share as DTA guidance.
The majority of the new criteria cover best practices many web developers and teams have
already been incorporating. Some were inferred from WCAG 2.0 criteria but are now made
explicit. Below are the topics covered by the new criteria along with links to the full text on the
W3C website:
Responsive design (
1.3.4 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#orientation),
1.4.10 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#reflow))
Inputs, forms and interaction (
1.3.5
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#identify-input-purpose), 1.3.6
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#identify-purpose), 2.5.1
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#pointer-gestures), 2.5.2
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#pointer-cancellation), 2.5.3
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#label-in-name), 2.5.4
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#motion-actuation),
2.5.5
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#target-size), 2.5.6
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#concurrent-input-mechanisms))
Contrast of non-text elements - graphics and interactions (1.4.11
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#non-text-contrast))
Typography (
1.4.12 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#text-spacing))
Content on hover or focus (1.4.13 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#content-
on-hover-or-focus))
Keyboard shortcuts (
2.1.4 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#character-key-
shortcuts))
Timeouts (2.2.6 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#timeouts))
Animation (2.3.3 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#animation-from-
interactions))
S
tatus messages (4.1.3 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/#status-messages))
WCAG, accessibility and inclusivity are often topics of discussion in our communities of
practice. Get involved by joining our
Content Design (/what-we-
do/partnerships/communities/) and Design System (https://designsystem.gov.au/community/)
communities.
You may also find the following W3C resources helpful:
Web Accessibility Initiative website (https://www.w3.org/WAI/)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Overview
(https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/)
What’s New in WCAG 2.1 (https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/new-in-
21/)
How to Meet WCAG 2 (Quick Reference) (https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/)
The Accessibility Team provides support and tools to make services accessible for everyone.
© Commonwealth of Australia. With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and
where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license.
