Introduction: The “Grading Scale” of Accessibility When you start looking at the WCAG guidelines, you’ll see them categorized into three levels: A, AA, and AAA. Think of these like a grading scale or levels of difficulty. If you’re a business owner or a project manager, choosing the right level is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. If you aim too low, you’re legally vulnerable. If you aim too high, you might spend your entire budget on features that only help a tiny fraction of users.
Level A: The “Foundation”
Level A is the bare minimum. It covers the most critical barriers that make a website completely unusable for some people.
- What it looks like: All videos have captions; every image has a text description; you can navigate the site using only a keyboard.
- The Risk: While Level A is a great start, it is not enough to meet legal standards like the ADA or EAA. If your site is only at Level A, it’s like having a building with a ramp but no handrails—it’s better than nothing, but it’s not safe or compliant.
Level AA: The “Standard”
Level AA is the global gold standard. This is the level that almost every law and contract in the world points to. It strikes a balance between being highly accessible and being practical for designers and developers to build.
- What it looks like: High contrast between text and background (so it’s easy to read); clear error messages on forms; no “timed” content that disappears too fast.
- The Recommendation: At Aditya Catalyst, we recommend that all our clients aim for Level AA. It provides the best protection against lawsuits and offers a great experience for the widest possible audience.
Level AAA: The “Exceptional”
Level AAA is the highest possible level of accessibility. It’s very difficult to achieve for an entire website because the requirements are extremely strict.
- What it looks like: Providing sign language for all videos; extremely high contrast; explaining every unusual word or abbreviation.
- The Reality: Most complex websites (like social media or banking apps) find it impossible to reach Level AAA everywhere. However, we often suggest aiming for AAA on “mission-critical” pages, like your “Contact Us” or “Help” sections.
Which One Should You Choose?
For 99% of organizations, the answer is Level AA. It is the legal “sweet spot” and ensures your site is usable for people with a wide range of disabilities, including those who are blind, deaf, have low vision, or have motor impairments.