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- "Reasonable" Access. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) - Resources This unofficial initiative has two "levels" of compliance. "Level 1" of the Web Accessibility Initiative, known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Initiative 1.0 (WCAG 1.0) became the basis for the U. S. 508 Accessibility rules. The U.S. Access Board refused to specifically reference the W3C rules, but indicated it was adopting Level 1 but not W3C "Level 2" or other checkpoints:
- However, there are slight differences. If you are building a web site to comply with federal 508 standards or a state that has adopted the federal 508 standards, you should rely on the Federal Accessibility Guide Book. The Level 1 and federal 508 standards provide "reasonable accessibility" to web sites consistent with federal law applicable to federal agencies.
The final rule does not reference the WCAG 1.0. However, the first nine provisions in ยง1194.22, paragraphs (a) through (i), incorporate the exact language recommended by the WAI in its comments to the proposed rule or contain language that is not substantively different than the WCAG 1.0 and was supported in its comments.
Paragraphs (j) and (k) are meant to be consistent with similar provisions in the WCAG 1.0, however, the final rule uses language which is more consistent with enforceable regulatory language. Paragraphs (l), (m), (n), (o), and (p) are different than any comparable provision in the WCAG 1.0 and generally require a higher level of access or prescribe a more specific requirement.
See Federal Access Board Web & Technology Access Decision, and discussion of 37 CFR Part 1194.22 of the rules.