The Complete Guide to Web Accessibility for 2026

• WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the current compliance benchmark, though WCAG 2.1 remains the legal reference for the European Accessibility Act (EAA) until EN 301 549 v4.1.1 is harmonised (expected October 2026).
• The European Accessibility Act (EAA) has been applicable since 28 June 2025 under Directive (EU) 2019/882. Slovakia transposed it via Act No. 351/2022 Coll. on the accessibility of products and services for persons with disabilities.
• Non‑compliance in Slovakia can result in fines up to €30,000 plus corrective measures, enforced by the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI).
• WCAG 3.0 is a working draft and should not be used for compliance-it is incomplete and will change substantially.
• Micro‑enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and/or turnover below €2 million) are exempt from EAA requirements for services.

• Digital products and services must meet accessibility standards
• Compliance is assessed against technical standard EN 301 549, which is currently aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA
• WCAG 2.2 Level AA is expected to become the new benchmark during 2026, but the legal reference remains v3.2.1

• The Act applies to services provided to consumers, including websites, mobile applications, electronic tickets, and information society services
• Requirements are in force
• The maximum reported penalty is €30,000, plus corrective measures
• Enforced by the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI) and sector bodies

• Micro‑enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and/or annual turnover below €2 million) providing e‑commerce services are exempt

• Level A: Minimum level-addresses the most basic barriers
• Level AA: Addresses the most common barriers for disabled users (standard for EAA compliance)
• Level AAA: The highest and most comprehensive level

<header>
 <a href="/" rel="home">My Awesome Website Logo</a>
 <nav aria-label="Primary navigation">
 <!-- Navigation links -->
 </nav>
</header>
<main>
 <article>
 <h1>My Awesome Article Main Title</h1>
 <section>
 <h2>Article Section Title</h2>
 <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit.</p>
 <section>
 <h3>Article Sub‑section Title 1</h3>
 <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit.</p>
 </section>
 <section>
 <h3>Article Sub‑section Title 2</h3>
 <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit.</p>
 </section>
 </section>
 </article>
 <aside>
 <h2>Table of Contents</h2>
 <nav aria-label="Table of Contents">
 <!-- Table of contents links -->
 </nav>
 </aside>
</main>
<footer>
 <!-- Footer content -->
</footer>

• Use ARIA when: Building custom components (modals, custom dropdowns, sliders) that cannot be built with native HTML
• Avoid ARIA when: A native HTML element already exists-using ARIA on a native element can override its built‑in semantics and harm accessibility

• JAWS (Windows)
• NVDA (Windows) – free and open‑source
• VoiceOver (macOS, iOS, iPadOS)
• TalkBack (Android)

1. Use semantic HTML – Helps screen readers understand structure and meaning
2. Provide descriptive alt text for images html<!– Meaningful image –> <img src=”beach.jpg” alt=”A sunny beach scene with palm trees and a clear blue sky”> <!– Decorative image –> <img src=”divider.png” alt=””>
3. Maintain a logical heading structure (<h1> to <h6>) – do not skip levels
4. Use ARIA landmarks to help users navigate
5. Ensure focus indicators are visible – never remove :focus outlines without providing an alternative

• WebAIM Contrast Checker
• Colour Contrast Analyser

<!-- Bad: relies only on colour -->
<span style="color: red;">Invalid email address</span>
<!-- Good: includes text and an icon -->
<span role="alert">
 <span aria-hidden="true">⚠️</span>
 Invalid email address
</span>

• Color Oracle – desktop application
• WhoCanUse – web‑based tool
• Chrome DevTools – built‑in colour blindness emulation

• Interactive elements receive focus in logical order
• Focus is visibly indicated
• Custom components (modals, dropdowns) trap focus correctly

<label for="email">Email Address:</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email">

1. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is currently required under the EAA, but WCAG 2.2 is expected to become the benchmark during 2026.
2. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) has been applicable since 28 June 2025 and applies to most digital products and services.
3. Slovakia has transposed the EAA through Act No. 351/2022 Coll., with fines up to €30,000 enforced by the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI).
4. Micro‑enterprises are exempt from EAA requirements for services.
5. Native HTML elements are inherently accessible and should be used in preference to custom components with ARIA.
6. ARIA should be used only when native HTML cannot achieve the required functionality-misused ARIA can harm accessibility.
7. Automated tools catch only a portion of issues-manual testing with screen readers and real users is essential.
8. Colour contrast requirements are 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
9. EN 301 549 v4.1.1, aligned with WCAG 2.2, is expected to be harmonised around October 2026.
10. WCAG 3.0 is a working draft and should not be used for compliance-it is incomplete and will change substantially.

• Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA)
• WebAIM
• Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE)
• Color Contrast Analyzer by The Paciello Group
• WhoCanUse
• A11y Project
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA Title III)
• Section 508
• EAA/EN 301 549: European standard for digital accessibility
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)