Explain to me in simple terms the European Accessibility Act and its impact for designers

What WCAG is - WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are recommendations from the W3C that explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities (visual, auditory, cognitive, motor). - Versions: 2.1 and 2.2 build on 2.0 by adding criteria for gaps identified since 2.0. Why it matters for designers - Legal and ethical: Many laws and standards (including the European Accessibility Act) reference WCAG; following it reduces legal risk and makes products usable by more people. - Usability: Accessibility improvements often improve overall usability (better navigation, clearer content). - Market reach: Accessible design expands your audience (older users, people with temporary impairments, low-bandwidth situations). Key changes in WCAG 2.1 (important for designers) - Addresses mobile, low-vision, and cognitive/accessibility needs beyond 2.0. - Notable criteria: - 1.3.4 (Info and Relationships): ensure semantic structure (headings, lists) so content is understandable and usable with assistive tech. - 1.4.10 (Reflow) and 1.4.11 (Non-text Contrast): designs must work when content is reflowed and provide sufficient contrast around UI components and states. - 2.5.1–2.5.4 (Pointer gestures, target size, label in name): make touch targets large enough, avoid complex gestures, and ensure visible labels match accessible names. Key changes in WCAG 2.2 (newer additions designers should note) - Focuses more on cognitive and mobile interactions and small-target accessibility. - Notable criteria: - 2.5.7 (Dragging Movements): provide alternatives to drag gestures. - 2.5.8 (Target Size) and 2.5.9 (Accessible Authentication): stricter requirements for target size and accessible sign-in flows (e.g., avoid tests that harm accessibility). - 3.2.6 (Consistent Help): make help and error assistance consistently available. Practical design implications (concrete actions) - Use semantic HTML and ARIA where necessary to expose structure and controls. - Ensure color contrast for text and UI components; don’t rely on color alone to convey information. - Make touch targets large (recommended minimums) and provide spacing. - Avoid complex gestures as the only means of action; provide alternatives (buttons, keyboard access). - Design forms with clear labels, visible error messages, and accessible authentication/verification flows. - Test with keyboard-only navigation, screen readers, and on mobile; include users with disabilities in usability testing. Standards and compliance levels - WCAG has conformance levels A, AA, and AAA. Most legal requirements and procurement reference Level AA. - Designers should aim for AA as a practical baseline. References - W3C WCAG Overview: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/ - WCAG 2.1: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/ - WCAG 2.2: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/ Keep it simple: design with clear structure, sufficient contrast, easy-to-hit controls, and alternatives for nonstandard interactions. These steps make interfaces both more inclusive and more usable.