Mapping the Revised 508/255 ICT Accessibility Standards to the WCAG 2.2

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I have this thing about connecting the dots between the current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and other documents that relate to accessibility. That way, the relationships are easier to see, reference, and teach. Seeing as how there’s a lot of buz around making government sites accessible and agencies scrambling to make the new deadline, I wanted to highlight the similarities between the WCAG and the Revised 508/255 ICT Standards.

Table of contents

How the ICT rule references WCAG

Being behind the ball a bit, the Information and communication technology (ICT) rule doesn’t point to the current version of the WCAG. It incorporates the WCAG 2.0 by reference 702.10.1 and requires Level A and Level AA conformance. Because the WCAG 2.2 is backward compatible, every 2.0 success criterion (SC) carries the same number, except for “SC 4.1.1 Parsing” which was deprecated. The WCAG 2.0 Levels along with the ICT rules map one-to-one onto a subset of today’s WCAG 2.2 Levels. The ICT rule’s text does not require the newer criteria added to the WCAG 2.2 however, it would be in the best interest for agencies to apply 2.2. That way, when the old requirements catch up to modern times, those who have been aiming for 2.2 will be ahead of the game.

ICT rules that align with the WCAG success criteria

ICT rule What it covers WCAG Level Exceptions
E205.4 (508, Electronic Content) Public-facing and certain non-public agency electronic content A and AA Non-Web documents excused from 2.4.1, 2.4.5, 3.2.3, 3.2.4
E207.2 (508, Software) UI components and content of platforms/applications A and AA Non-Web software excused from the same four criteria, and from Conformance Requirement 3 (Complete Processes)
C203.1 (255, Electronic Content) Content integral to telecom or Customer Premises Equipment use A and AA Non-Web documents excused from 2.4.1, 2.4.5, 3.2.3, 3.2.4
C205.2 (255, Software) UI components and content of telecom platforms/applications A and AA Same exceptions as E207.2
504.2 / 504.3 / 504.4 (Authoring Tools) Content produced or edited by authoring tools, prompts, templates A and AA Applies “to the extent supported by the destination format”; not required for direct editing of plain text source code
602.3 (Electronic Support Documentation) Web-based/electronic help and self-service documentation A and AA None stated
501.1 Exception (Software, general) Web applications lacking platform accessibility service access A and AA (in lieu of 502/503) Applies only when the app has no access to platform accessibility services
408.3 Exception (Hardware, Flashing) Flashing on ICT display screens General flash / red flash thresholds Defined by reference to WCAG 2.0’s flash thresholds (see 2.3.1)

Where a document or non-Web software substitution applies, the rule also swaps the term “Web page” or “page” for “document” or “software” in the SC text E205.4.1, E207.2.1, C203.1.1, C205.2.1.

WCAG 2.0 Level A & AA criteria required by the ICT rule, mapped to WCAG 2.2

The following 38 success criteria are the ones the ICT rule requires. Numbering and titles are unchanged, so each maps directly to the current WCAG 2.2 SC.

Level A

SC WCAG 2.2 Title Status
1.1.1 Non-text Content Unchanged
1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) Unchanged
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) Unchanged
1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) Unchanged
1.3.1 Info and Relationships Unchanged
1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence Unchanged
1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics Unchanged
1.4.1 Use of Color Unchanged
1.4.2 Audio Control Unchanged
2.1.1 Keyboard Unchanged
2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap Unchanged
2.2.1 Timing Adjustable Unchanged
2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide Unchanged
2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold Unchanged
2.4.1 Bypass Blocks Unchanged (excepted for non-Web docs/software)
2.4.2 Page Titled Unchanged
2.4.3 Focus Order Unchanged
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) Unchanged
3.1.1 Language of Page Unchanged
3.2.1 On Focus Unchanged
3.2.2 On Input Unchanged
3.3.1 Error Identification Unchanged
3.3.2 Labels or Instructions Unchanged
4.1.1 Parsing Obsolete/removed in WCAG 2.2 — no longer testable; treat as satisfied
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value Unchanged

Level AA

SC WCAG 2.2 Title Status
1.2.4 Captions (Live) Unchanged
1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) Unchanged
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) Unchanged
1.4.4 Resize Text Unchanged
1.4.5 Images of Text Unchanged
2.4.5 Multiple Ways Unchanged (excepted for non-Web docs/software)
2.4.6 Headings and Labels Unchanged
2.4.7 Focus Visible Unchanged
3.1.2 Language of Parts Unchanged
3.2.3 Consistent Navigation Unchanged (excepted for non-Web docs/software)
3.2.4 Consistent Identification Unchanged (excepted for non-Web docs/software)
3.3.3 Error Suggestion Unchanged
3.3.4 Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) Unchanged

WCAG 2.2 criteria not required by the ICT

As I mentioned above, since the ICT rule references the WCAG 2.0, the newer criteria (introduced in 2.1 or 2.2) are not required by 508/255. Though, that doesn’t mean they sould be ignored.

SC WCAG Title Level WCAG version
1.3.4 Orientation AA 2.1
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose AA 2.1
1.3.6 Identify Purpose AAA 2.1
1.4.10 Reflow AA 2.1
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast AA 2.1
1.4.12 Text Spacing AA 2.1
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus AA 2.1
2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts A 2.1
2.2.6 Timeouts AAA 2.1
2.3.2 Three Flashes AAA 2.1
2.3.3 Animation from Interactions AAA 2.1
2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) AA 2.2
2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced) AAA 2.2
2.4.13 Focus Appearance AAA 2.2
2.5.1 Pointer Gestures A 2.1
2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation A 2.1
2.5.3 Label in Name A 2.1
2.5.4 Motion Actuation A 2.1
2.5.5 Target Size (Enhanced) AAA 2.1
2.5.6 Concurrent Input Mechanisms AAA 2.1
2.5.7 Dragging Movements AA 2.2
2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) AA 2.2
3.2.5 Change on Request AAA 2.1
3.2.6 Consistent Help A 2.2
3.3.5 Help AAA 2.1
3.3.6 Error Prevention (All) AAA 2.1
3.3.7 Redundant Entry A 2.2
3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) AA 2.2
3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced) AAA 2.2
4.1.3 Status Messages AA 2.1

ICT rules with no WCAG equivalent

Because the WCAG governs electronic content, a large part of the ICT rules are out of the WCAG’s scope since they govern support services, hardware, platform-level software services.

Legacy cross-reference: original 2000 Section 508 Standards (§1194.22) to WCAG 1.0

Going back this far is over kill, but hey, here we are. So for context, the Access Board’s preamble maps the original 2000-era §1194.22 paragraphs (a)-(k) to WCAG 1.0 Priority 1 guidelines or checkpoint. This mapping is is only relevant when evaluating legacy ICT under the safe-harbor provision (E202.2).

§1194.22 Paragraph WCAG 1.0 Checkpoint
(a) 1.1
(b) 1.4
(c) 2.1
(d) 6.1
(e) 1.2
(f) 9.1
(g) 5.1
(h) 5.2
(i) 12.1
(j) 7.1
(k) 11.4

Not shown here, paragraphs (l)–(p), of the original §1194.22 have no WCAG 1.0 equivalent and were 508-specific additions. Full checkpoint text is available in the WCAG 1.0 specification.

References

U.S Access Board, Revised 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines
https://www.access-board.gov/ict/

Understanding WCAG 2.2
https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/