WCAG in Plain English

Product Introduction

1. WCAG in Plain English is a simplified interpretation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) designed to make accessibility standards accessible to non-experts. It translates complex technical requirements into clear, actionable language while maintaining alignment with official WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 criteria. The product organizes guidelines by roles, disabilities, and content types to streamline learning and implementation.
2. The core value lies in its ability to demystify WCAG for professionals who need practical guidance without wading through dense technical documentation. It bridges the gap between compliance requirements and real-world application by offering structured, role-specific filters and disability-focused explanations.

Main Features

1. The product provides role-based filtering (e.g., developers, content creators, designers) to surface relevant guidelines for specific job functions. For example, developers receive code-specific advice like ARIA labeling requirements, while content creators get guidance on alt-text and captions.
2. It includes disability-specific filters (auditory, cognitive, motor, visual) to highlight how each guideline impacts users with different needs. This helps teams prioritize fixes for high-impact accessibility barriers, such as keyboard navigation for motor-impaired users.
3. Cross-version compatibility ensures users can toggle between WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 requirements, with clear indicators for new or updated criteria. Each guideline is tagged with its conformance level (A, AA, AAA) and technical categories like "Forms" or "Sensory" for precise implementation.

Problems Solved

1. It addresses the difficulty of interpreting WCAG’s technical language, which often leads to misinterpretation or incomplete compliance. By breaking down success criteria into plain English, it reduces the learning curve for teams without formal accessibility training.
2. The product targets web developers, UX designers, content managers, and compliance officers who need to implement or audit WCAG standards efficiently. It is particularly useful for small to mid-sized organizations lacking dedicated accessibility specialists.
3. Typical use cases include auditing existing websites for compliance gaps, training teams on accessibility fundamentals, and validating design decisions against WCAG requirements during prototyping. For example, a content team might use the "Wording" filter to ensure text alternatives meet 1.1.1 standards.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike official WCAG documents or generic guides, this tool combines plain-language explanations with structured filtering to deliver context-specific guidance. Competitors often lack the granular role/disability/content filters that enable targeted problem-solving.
2. The integration of multiple WCAG versions (2.0, 2.1, 2.2) in a single interface allows users to track evolving standards without cross-referencing separate resources. Updates to new criteria, like 2.2’s "Focus Not Obscured," are explicitly flagged.
3. Competitive advantages include its CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing for flexible reuse in training materials and the inclusion of technical tags (e.g., "Code and Labels," "Zoom and Legibility") that map guidelines to implementation workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is this a replacement for official WCAG documentation? No, this is a supplementary resource designed to simplify understanding and implementation. Users must still reference official WCAG specifications for compliance verification and legal contexts.
2. How does the role-based filtering work? Users select their primary role (e.g., developer, designer) to filter guidelines by actionable tasks like "Code and Labels" or "Visual Mode Remediation," ensuring relevance to their workflow.
3. Does it cover all WCAG 2.2 requirements? Yes, the product includes all 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 success criteria with version-specific tags. Recent additions like 2.2’s "Dragging Movements" (2.5.7) are explained in plain language.
4. Can I use this for auditing existing websites? Yes, the "Audit Management" and "Scan and Monitor" references in the content summary indicate compatibility with technical audits. The sensory and keyboard navigation guidelines help identify common failures.
5. Are updates provided for future WCAG versions? The product’s structure supports seamless integration of new standards, with historical versions retained for legacy compliance needs. Users receive notifications for major updates via the platform.