Most accessibility laws point back to one shared set of guidelines, called WCAG. Here is what each one covers and what it means for a business website.
Published by the World Wide Web Consortium, WCAG is the technical yardstick most laws and courts refer to. It is organized around four ideas: content should be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
What it means for you: Level AA is the common target. Access-A-Pal's fixes and monthly reports are built around WCAG 2.1 AA.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires businesses open to the public to be accessible to people with disabilities. Courts and the Department of Justice have treated business websites as part of that, and WCAG 2.1 AA is the standard most often referenced.
What it means for you: if customers can find you, book you or buy from you online, your website should work for people with disabilities too.
Part of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their technology accessible, using WCAG as the measure.
What it means for you: if you work with federal agencies or sell to them, expect to be asked about accessibility.
The European Accessibility Act took effect in June 2025 and covers many digital products and services sold to people in the EU, including online stores. EN 301 549 is the European technical standard, and it builds on WCAG.
What it means for you: if you sell to customers in Europe, accessibility is part of doing business there.
Ontario's AODA sets website accessibility requirements for many organizations in the province. The Accessible Canada Act covers federally regulated organizations. Both rely on WCAG.
What it means for you: businesses serving Canadian customers should plan for WCAG-based accessibility.
Israel's web accessibility standard, also based on WCAG, applies to many businesses offering services online in Israel.
Start with a scan so you know what visitors run into today.
Access-A-Pal handles many common barriers within days of install.
Captions, PDFs and theme issues get fixed directly, by you or by our web team.
Publish an accessibility statement and keep your monthly reports. Ongoing effort matters.
This page is general information to help you understand the landscape, and requirements can change. It is not legal advice. LOJO is not a law firm, and the LOJO team are not attorneys. Using Access-A-Pal does not guarantee that your website meets any of the laws or standards above.
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