If you’re a website owner or app developer, you’ve probably heard about WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). But when it comes to mobile apps, you might wonder: Does WCAG apply here too? The short answer is yes! WCAG isn’t just for websites—it extends to mobile apps as well. Let’s dive into why WCAG is important for mobile apps, what it means for accessibility, and how to ensure your app meets these guidelines.

What is WCAG, and Why Does it Matter?

WCAG, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), provides guidelines to make web content more accessible for everyone, particularly people with disabilities. These guidelines help ensure that users with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments can interact with websites—and, as it turns out, mobile apps—with ease.

When WCAG was first introduced, it focused on websites, but as technology evolved, so did our understanding of accessibility. With the rise of mobile apps, it’s clear that WCAG also applies to them. Whether you’re building an e-commerce app, a social media platform, or a mobile version of your website, adhering to WCAG is crucial for staying compliant with accessibility standards and avoiding legal issues.

Does WCAG Apply to Mobile Apps?

Yes, WCAG applies to mobile apps. While WCAG wasn’t initially designed with mobile apps in mind, its principles are just as relevant in the mobile space. The guidelines are technology-agnostic, meaning they can be applied to any digital content, including mobile apps.

Mobile apps, like websites, must be accessible to everyone, and the same types of barriers that exist on websites—like unreadable text, poor color contrast, or unclear navigation—can also affect mobile apps. That’s why WCAG compliance is essential for mobile app development. Not only does it help create a better user experience for people with disabilities, but it also ensures that your app is legally compliant.

The Growing Importance of Mobile Accessibility

Mobile devices have become an essential part of our daily lives, with more people accessing information and services via apps than ever before. This makes it even more important to ensure that mobile apps are accessible. In fact, a significant portion of users rely on mobile devices as their primary way of accessing the internet, including people with disabilities. Ensuring your app meets accessibility standards isn’t just good practice; it’s a way to reach a broader audience.

Failing to consider accessibility in mobile apps can result in lost users, bad reviews, and even legal consequences. There have been several lawsuits filed in the U.S. where businesses were held accountable for not providing accessible mobile experiences. By following WCAG, you reduce the risk of these issues and open your app to a more diverse audience.

How WCAG Applies to Mobile Apps

WCAG guidelines revolve around four core principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (often abbreviated as POUR). These principles are crucial when designing both websites and mobile apps.

1. Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presented in ways that users can perceive. For mobile apps, this means ensuring that text is readable, images are described through alt text, and media elements are captioned or have transcripts available.
2. Operable: Users must be able to interact with all interface elements using various input methods, such as screen readers or voice commands. In mobile apps, this could include ensuring that buttons are large enough to be tapped easily and that the app works with assistive technologies like voice control or switch access.
3. Understandable: The interface must be easy to understand and navigate. This is especially important for mobile apps, where the small screen size can make navigation more difficult. Make sure that users can easily understand how to use your app, with clear instructions and intuitive design elements.
4. Robust: The app must be compatible with current and future technologies. This includes ensuring that your app works well across different devices, platforms, and with assistive technologies.

Mobile App Accessibility Checklist

Now that we’ve established that WCAG does apply to mobile apps, how do you ensure that your app is compliant? Here’s a mobile app accessibility checklist to get you started:

Text and Readability

1. Text Resizing: Make sure your text can get bigger without messing up the layout. This is part of WCAG 1.4.4 (Resize Text), which means users should be able to increase text size up to 200% without losing content or functionality.
2. High Contrast: Use colors that are easy to read against each other, like dark text on a light background. This helps everyone, including those with vision problems. WCAG 1.4.3 (Contrast Ratio) suggests a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for larger text.
3. Alternative Text: Always include a description for images, icons, and buttons. This helps screen readers explain what’s on the screen to people who can’t see the images. This follows WCAG 1.1.1 (Non-Text Content).

Keyboard and Assistive Technology Compatibility

1. Keyboard Accessibility: Make sure all parts of your app can be used with just a keyboard. This is covered by WCAG 2.1.1 (Keyboard), ensuring that users who can’t use a mouse can still navigate your app.
2. Assistive Technology: Check that your app works well with tools like screen readers, voice controls, and switches. This is important for WCAG 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value), which ensures that assistive technologies can interpret user interface elements.
3. Screen Reader Testing: Test your app with popular screen readers like VoiceOver (for iPhones) and TalkBack (for Android phones) to make sure they work well together.

Navigation and Interaction

1. Consistent Navigation: Keep navigation easy and the same across different screens. This is part of WCAG 3.2.3 (Consistent Navigation), which helps users get around without getting lost.
2. Touch Targets: Make sure buttons and icons are big enough for everyone to tap easily. WCAG 2.5.5 (Target Size) recommends making touch targets at least 44×44 pixels.
3. Simple Gestures: Avoid using complex gestures like multi-finger swipes without offering simpler options. WCAG 2.5.1 (Pointer Gestures) suggests providing alternatives for complex gestures.

Audio and Video Content

1. Captions: Add captions to all your videos so people who can’t hear well can still understand what’s being said. This is part of WCAG 1.2.2 (Captions (Pre-recorded)).
2. Transcripts: Include transcripts for audio content and podcasts. This is a text version of the audio that helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing, covered by WCAG 1.2.1 (Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)).
3. Playback Controls: Let users control the audio playback, including volume and speed, and make sure they can pause or stop it. This aligns with WCAG 1.4.2 (Audio Control).

Color and Contrast

1. Color Contrast: Ensure there’s a strong contrast between text and background colors to help users with color blindness or vision problems. Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large text, as recommended by WCAG 1.4.3 (Contrast Ratio).
2. Avoid Color Alone: Don’t use color as the only way to show important info. For example, if you use red to highlight an error, also include text to explain it. This follows WCAG 1.4.1 (Use of Color).

Error Identification and Recovery

1. Error Highlighting: Clearly show when something goes wrong, like a missing form field, and give tips on how to fix it. This is part of WCAG 3.3.1 (Error Identification) and 3.3.3 (Error Suggestion).
2. Clear Error Messages: Make sure error messages are easy to understand, not full of technical jargon. This helps users fix mistakes, as outlined in WCAG 3.3.3 (Error Suggestion).
3. Easy Recovery: Allow users to fix mistakes without starting over. For example, let them undo actions or correct errors easily. This is covered by WCAG 3.3.4 (Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data)).

Test with Real Users

1. User Testing: Even if you follow all the WCAG guidelines, it’s crucial to test your app with real users who use assistive technologies. Their feedback is invaluable for ensuring your app is truly accessible.
2. Keep Improving: Use feedback from user testing to make your app better. Keep updating and checking your app to make sure it stays accessible as you add new features.

The Benefits of Accessible Mobile Apps

Making your mobile app accessible is not just about complying with regulations—it’s about providing a better user experience for everyone. Here are some key benefits:

• Wider Audience: Accessible apps reach a broader audience, including users with disabilities who may not be able to use apps that don’t meet WCAG guidelines.
• Improved Usability: Many accessibility improvements, like clearer navigation and larger touch targets, make your app easier to use for all users, not just those with disabilities.
• Avoiding Legal Risk: Compliance with WCAG helps you stay on the right side of web compliance laws, reducing the risk of lawsuits related to accessibility.
• Better Reputation: Being proactive about accessibility can enhance your brand’s reputation and show your commitment to inclusivity.

Final Thoughts

In the digital age, mobile apps are a key part of how we interact with the world, and making sure they’re accessible is crucial for providing an inclusive experience. WCAG does apply to mobile apps, and by following the guidelines, you can create apps that are usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re improving an existing app, using the mobile app accessibility checklist can help ensure that your app is WCAG-compliant and ready to serve all users.

Remember, accessibility isn’t just about following the law—it’s about doing the right thing for your users and your business. To learn more about becoming accessible and staying compliant, schedule an ADA briefing with 216digital today. We’re here to help you take the next steps!