WCAG 2.1 AA Conformance

This question asks whether your product meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA - the international standard for web accessibility. Think of WCAG as building codes for the digital world. Level AA is the sweet spot: comprehensive enough to serve users with disabilities well, but achievable for most products. 'Substantially conforms' means you meet most requirements with a plan for any gaps.

WCAG 2.1 AA is the minimum bar for enterprise sales, government contracts, and legal compliance in many jurisdictions. Without it, you're locked out of major markets. Meeting this standard opens doors to the $13 trillion spending power of people with disabilities globally. It also provides legal protection - courts recognize WCAG conformance as evidence of non-discrimination. Non-conformance increasingly triggers lawsuits with average settlements of $75,000.

Companies often claim conformance without proper testing or documentation to back it up. Another mistake is conforming to outdated WCAG 2.0 when 2.1 added critical mobile and cognitive accessibility requirements. Many also misunderstand 'substantial conformance' - having a few minor issues is acceptable, but core functionality must be fully accessible.