The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have officially reached a new milestone. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has announced that WCAG 2.2 is now recognised as an international standard - ISO/IEC 40500:2025.
It’s a quiet but significant step that will reshape how organisations approach digital accessibility worldwide.
Why ISO Approval Matters
WCAG has long been the global benchmark for digital accessibility. Its guidelines help organisations make websites and apps usable by people with auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, and visual impairments.
It also benefits older users and anyone whose abilities change over time.
Now that WCAG 2.2 is an ISO standard, it gains formal international recognition. Governments and regulators can adopt it more confidently as a compliance requirement, and businesses can use it as a clear, trusted reference point.
For companies operating in the EU, it closely aligns with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and other legislation, helping to future-proof digital services before new rules come into force.
From Guidelines to Global Standard
Until now, WCAG was widely respected but technically advisory. ISO approval elevates it from recommendation to recognised benchmark.
This matters because many industries already rely on ISO standards for quality, security, and sustainability. Adding accessibility to that list means it will now be taken more seriously in procurement, audits, and legal frameworks.
If your organisation manages any digital product — a website, app, or internal system — accessibility can no longer be left for later. The standard has shifted.
What This Means for Your Website
ISO approval reinforces that accessibility is not optional. Organisations should consider the following steps:
1. Review current accessibility
Check whether your websites, apps, and digital services meet WCAG 2.2 criteria. Start with fundamentals like keyboard navigation, colour contrast, and meaningful alt text.
2. Close gaps proactively
Identify and fix hidden barriers before users encounter them. Unlabeled buttons, poor focus indicators, or missing captions are common pain points that can be resolved early.
3. Plan for ongoing compliance
Accessibility is a continuous process. Build testing into your regular design and development cycles instead of treating it as a one-time project.
4. Empower your team
Give your designers, developers, and content creators the right tools and training. Shared understanding makes compliance easier and more consistent across projects.
What’s New in WCAG 2.2
WCAG 2.2 expands on previous versions with updates focused on usability and inclusion. Key improvements include:
Larger touch targets to support mobile and touch users
Reduced cognitive load with clearer navigation and input guidance
Better focus visibility for keyboard users
Enhanced support for users with learning and memory challenges
These updates make digital experiences smoother, clearer, and more consistent — benefiting all users, not just those with specific accessibility needs.
Takeaway
The web just raised the bar. WCAG 2.2 as ISO/IEC 40500:2025 cements accessibility as a global standard, not an optional extra.
If you already work to inclusive design principles, this recognition validates your efforts. If you’re just starting, it’s the ideal moment to review your practices and build accessibility into your workflow.
The message is simple: audit your site, close the gaps, and keep improving. When you design for accessibility, you design for everyone - and that’s what lasting, future-proof digital experiences are built on.
"ISO/IEC JTC 1 is pleased to provide this updated W3C accessibility standard as ISO/IEC 40500:2025. This standard will enable the internet to be more accessible for everyone, building on W3C’s pioneering work on web accessibility," said Phil Wennblom, Chair of ISO/IEC JTC 1.
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