Why WCAG Compliance Alone Isn't Enough: How to Go Beyond for Real Accessibility
Let's dive deeper into why simply meeting WCAG guidelines can leave some users behind, and what you can do to genuinely go beyond compliance.
Your website passed a WCAG 2.2 audit? That’s good and enough to be compliant with the EAA, but you might not be fully inclusive. Just because your accessibility tool shows a green checkmark doesn’t mean every user feels included. Accessibility isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about ensuring everyone, regardless of ability, truly has an inclusive experience.
In this article, we will explore some real-world examples of how WCAG compliance can fall short and what you can do to genuinely go beyond compliance.
Real-life Examples of WCAG-Compliant yet Accessibility-Failing Scenarios
WCAG guidelines offer essential guardrails—but they don’t always catch every real-world barrier. Some of these issues might touch on specific WCAG 2.2 requirements, but the poor implementation leads to real barriers.
1. Alt Text Overload
Imagine we have an e-commerce site about garden tables. You dutifully add alt text to every image, and now every garden table image says “Wooden garden table”. If there are 20 images per page, that’s 20 times that the screen reader will read “Wooden garden table”. Screen-reader users aren’t helped by repetition; they need context-rich descriptions.
Related SC: 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A)
Note: WCAG requires meaningful alt text. Excessive repetition may technically pass but creates a poor user experience, undermining accessibility.
2. Cognitive Overload Dashboard
Great! You hit the contrast requirements and keyboard navigation. But your dashboard has flashing notifications, overwhelming widgets, and cluttered data tables. Users with cognitive challenges or ADHD bounce off quickly, exhausted.
Related SCs:
- 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (Level A)
- 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A)
- 3.2.4 Consistent Identification (Level AA)
Note: Overwhelming interfaces may meet technical requirements but fail cognitive accessibility needs.
3. Infinite Carousels
Yes, your carousel meets ARIA labeling guidelines and has keyboard controls. But keyboard users find themselves trapped in endless loops. Users who rely on screen readers are left frustrated by inconsistent focus handling. They can’t easily skip to the next section or find the content they need.
Related SCs:
Note: Keyboard traps and poor focus handling are WCAG violations, not just UX flaws.
4. Perfect Contrast, Poor Typography
Your site has perfect contrast ratios, but the font is tiny and hard to read. Or the font is overly decorative, making it difficult for users with dyslexia or low vision to read. You might have passed the WCAG test, but users are still struggling to consume your content. Check out this article about accessible fonts to learn more about how to choose the right font for your website.
Not strictly covered: Typography readability (like font choice or size) or text customization isn’t fully covered, but is highly recommended in best practices and is part of the conversation in WCAG 3.0. See more information here: WCAG 3.0.
5. ARIA Overuse
You added ARIA attributes to every element, thinking it would make your site more accessible. But now screen readers are overwhelmed with unnecessary information. Users can’t find the content they need because the ARIA labels are too verbose or confusing.
Related SC: 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A)
Note: Overly verbose or misused ARIA can cause confusion and disrupt assistive technologies.
6. Quick-disappearing Toast Notifications
Your notifications look great, meet contrast requirements, and pass automated checks. But they disappear automatically after just 3 seconds, leaving no chance for users—especially those relying on screen readers, magnifiers, or cognitive aids—to finish reading them.
Related SCs:
Note: Timed content and status updates must be perceivable and announced by screen readers.
Best Practice: Make toasts dismissible or let users control timing. Better yet, keep important alerts accessible until actively dismissed by the user.
7. Voice Access and Navigation
Your buttons and links pass keyboard navigation and ARIA checks. But how accessible is your site to users navigating entirely by voice commands? Without meaningful labels and clear voice cues, voice-only users can get stuck or frustrated.
Best Practice: Clearly label interactive elements with recognizable commands. Test your site using voice navigation tools like Windows Voice Access or Apple Voice Control to ensure smooth navigation.
Related SC (indirect): 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A)
Note: Voice navigation isn’t directly covered, but accessible naming conventions support voice control tools.
8. Perfectly Valid Forms, but Poor Error Handling
Your forms technically pass WCAG criteria—ARIA attributes and labels are spot-on. But the error messages appear only briefly or far from the actual input field, causing confusion or missed instructions for screen reader users.
Best Practice: Place clear, persistent error messages close to the relevant form field and ensure ARIA live regions announce errors immediately.
Related SCs:
- 3.3.1 Error Identification (Level A)
- 3.3.3 Error Suggestion (Level AA)
- 4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA)
Note: Clear, persistent, and accessible error messages are explicitly required.
9. Accessible Video, but Missing Context
Your videos have captions—excellent! But are those captions accurate, well-timed, and helpful for users who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing? Or are they automated, incorrect, and frustrating?
Best Practice: Provide professionally reviewed or manually edited captions, along with descriptive transcripts. Consider audio descriptions if visuals convey important meaning.
Related SCs:
Note: Auto-generated captions may pass initial checks but fail WCAG if they’re not accurate or meaningful.
Some Pratical Tips to Go Beyond WCAG Compliance
To truly enhance accessibility, consider these practical tips:
Involve Real Users
Testing your website with real users—especially users with disabilities—is vital. Tools catch maybe 40% of issues. Real users reveal problems automated tests miss entirely.
Check Your Third-party Widgets
Third-party scripts, like chatbots and advertising overlays, often cause accessibility nightmares. Audit them manually. Never trust blindly!
Design Whole User Journeys
Accessibility isn’t isolated on single pages. It’s about seamless navigation from landing page to checkout. Make sure focus states and ARIA live regions behave predictably across entire journeys.
User-Controlled Themes & Modes
Give users the ability to personalize your site: dark modes, high-contrast settings, and accessibility-friendly color themes.
Conclusion: WCAG Compliance is Only the Beginning
As said before, accessibility isn’t a single checkbox—it’s a spectrum. Consider this illustration:
Achieving 100% in Lighthouse or fully complying with the EAA is a fantastic start. However, true accessibility lies beyond compliance, it’s about continuously improving the user experience to eliminate as many barriers as possible, even knowing absolute perfection isn’t achievable.
By implementing thoughtful features and consistently aiming beyond the minimum compliance requirements, you’re creating a digital experience that’s truly inclusive—one that continuously adapts and grows to accommodate as many diverse needs as possible.
Don’t get me wrong. WCAG is a vital foundation for accessibility, but true inclusivity begins where checklists end.
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