WCAG 2.1 is an international set of guidelines developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines provide recommendations for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. WCAG 2.1 builds upon its predecessor, WCAG 2.0, and includes additional success criteria and guidance for improving web accessibility.
The “AA” level of WCAG 2.1 refers to a specific level of conformance within the guidelines. The levels are defined as A, AA, and AAA, with AA being the middle level of conformance. Meeting the AA level means that a website or digital content is designed and developed in a way that provides a high degree of accessibility to people with disabilities.
In the context of the AODA, organizations in Ontario are required to follow the accessibility standards set out by the AODA, and the information and communication standards of the AODA reference the WCAG 2.0 as the accessibility standard for digital content. However, it’s important to note that accessibility standards and regulations can evolve over time, so it’s recommended to check with official sources for the most up-to-date information.