Making it easier to create accessible products

In the fast-changing digital landscape, accessibility is not just a buzzword — it’s a necessity. Since 2014, government has been committed to achieving Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Level AA compliance for websites and applications. This commitment is restated in the AccessibleBC Plan (2022 to 2025), Priority 2. This is because equitable access to information and services is a core principle of both good design and responsible government.  

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have long been the guiding light in the pursuit of web accessibility. But, for many, they can seem like a maze of technical jargon and complexity. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce a simplified companion guide to WCAG, designed to help designers, developers and content writers quickly identify the specific WCAG standards they need to follow to improve the accessibility of their products. 

Making WCAG understandable 

While the original WCAG are invaluable, they can be intimidating, especially for those new to web accessibility. We know not everyone has time to wade through all 50 success criteria of WCAG 2.1 Level AA. We also knew we needed a way to filter information to make it relevant to you and your work.

We partnered with the digital.gov.bc.ca team and used content design practices like plain language, clear headings and audience specific information to structure the guide. These best practices also improve the accessibility of the content. They then built a filter function to allow you to navigate the content based on your own work.

This means you can focus on the guidelines most relevant to you including the steps you need to take to improve accessibility.

A work in progress, just like accessibility 

We believe in continuous improvement, and work is no exception. Accessibility is an evolving field, and as such, our guide is a living document. We welcome your feedback and insights, at the moment you can provide feedback by email. Your experiences and suggestions will help shape it, ensuring it remains up-to-date and relevant. 

With the help of designers and researchers from the Digital Office, we completed usability testing with people from across government. This allowed us to make improvements before publishing and helped scope our future work.  

Our commitment to inclusion 

At its core, this content supports our mission to deliver usable and accessible services to all.  We’re committed to inclusivity and equity.

Our next phase of work includes updating the content to include new success criteria from WCAG 2.2, which recently launched.  

Get started today 

Ready to embark on your accessibility journey? Use the information the next time you’re designing a website or writing new content. Whether you’re a developer fine-tuning code or a content author designing digital services, our guide is here to empower you. It’s more than a resource—it’s a step towards a digital future where everyone can participate fully.