Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

For Review: WCAG 3 Working Draft – March 2026

2026-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 Working Draft is updated. The starting place for background, timeline, and up-to-date information is the WCAG 3 Introduction. For a list of changes in the March 2026 draft, see Status: In-progress drafts.

ACT Rules Format 1.1 is a Web Standard (W3C Recommendation)

2026-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Rules Format 1.1 is now a web standard (W3C Recommendation). ACT Rules Format defines a format for writing accessibility test rules. The test rules can be used for developing automated testing tools and manual testing methodologies. For an introduction to ACT Rules, see Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Overview.

For Review: Cognitive Accessibility Research Modules — First Draft Notes

2026-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

Cognitive Accessibility Research Modules are available as first Draft Notes. The documents cover research on accessibility for people with cognitive and learning disabilities for Voice Systems and Conversational Interfaces, Technology Assisted Indoor Navigation / Wayfinding, Online Safety and Wellbeing (Algorithms and Data), and Supported Decision-Making Online. They address user needs, accessibility issues, directions for solutions, and areas for further research. We particularly seek input on what might be appropriate to add to these documents, including other relevant research, additional user needs, and the connection between research and priorities for new work in W3C groups. Information on related work is in Cognitive Accessibility at W3C.

For Review: W3C Accessibility Guidelines Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM) 2.0 — First Draft Note

2026-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

W3C Accessibility Guidelines Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM) 2.0 is available as a first Draft Note. WCAG-EM describes a methodology with a step-by-step process to evaluate how well digital products conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2. WCAG-EM 1 is specifically for testing websites and web pages. WCAG-EM 2 also applies to apps and other digital products. For an introduction to WCAG-EM and more information about the WCAG-EM 2 draft, see WCAG-EM Overview.

WCAG 2.2 Approved as an ISO Standard

2025-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 is now an approved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard: ISO/IEC 40500:2025. It is available free from ISO/IEC 40500:2025 - Information technology — W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. This standard enables more countries to formally adopt WCAG 2.2. Additional information is in the W3C press release on WCAG 2.2 approved as ISO/IEC international standard and ‘ISO/IEC 40500, EAA, EN 301 549’ section of WCAG 2 Overview.

For Review: WCAG 3 Working Draft - September 2025

2025-09-04T00:00:00+00:00

W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 Working Draft is updated. For review questions and how to comment, please see the WCAG 3 section ‘About this draft’. The starting place for background, timeline, and up-to-date information is the WCAG 3 Introduction.

For Wide Review: Accessibility Maturity Model — Updated Draft Note

2025-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

Accessibility Maturity Model Updated Draft Note is ready for review. The Accessibility Maturity Model provides a framework to assess an organization’s policies and procedures to deliver accessible products and services. It can be used to measure current capabilities, identify gaps, and plan improvements. For more details, review questions and how to comment, see the email announcing the Accessibility Maturity Model update. Please comment by 30 September 2025.

WCAG2ICT — W3C Group Note updated to coordinate with EN 301 549

2025-08-21T00:00:00+00:00

Guidance on Applying WCAG 2 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT) has been updated in coordination with the work to update EN 301 549. EN 301 549 is the European standard ‘Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services’. For the list of substantive changes, see Changes since the 15 November 2024 Note. For an introduction to WCAG2ICT, see the WCAG2ICT Overview.

Call for implementations: Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Rules Format 1.1 — Candidate Recommendation

2025-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Rules Format 1.1 is now a Candidate Recommendation Snapshot. That means we’re seeking example implementations. ACT Rules Format defines a format for writing accessibility test rules that can be used for developing automated testing tools and manual testing methodologies. For an introduction to Accessibility Conformance Testing, see the ACT Overview. We welcome implementations any time. Please submit any comments by 20 October 2025.

Advancing Digital Accessibility with W3C WAI — keynote recording available

2025-07-24T00:00:00+00:00

Shawn Lawton Henry (Director, Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)) and Kevin White (Senior Principal Accessibility Specialist) led an interactive session at the AccessU 2025 training conference. Learn about WAI resources to help promote that accessibility is about improving the user experiences of people with disabilities, and to support you in planning, managing, designing, developing, and training for digital accessibility. The Q&A includes the WCAG 3 approach and timeline (years away). Find out how you can contribute to W3C accessibility work. See the recording of Advancing Digital Accessibility with W3C WAI.