Accessibility requirements

Question

When are the following Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) accessibility requirements applicable to the CDR?

What are the minimum levels of compliance for these requirements?

• 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable
• 3.3.5 Context Sensitive Help available
• 3.3.7: Accessible Authentication

Answer

Regarding CX standards compliance:

The CX standards are all immediately mandatory, with the following exceptions

• A CX standard is identified as not mandatory in the future dated obligations
• The CX standard is not yet in scope

The accessibility standards apply as soon as an ADR or DH participates in CDR. 

There is some flexibility. The accessibility standards obligations are phrased as ‘Must seek to…’. The wording acknowledges that there are situations where a CDR participant cannot comply, or compliance is inappropriate.

If a CDR participant is unable to prove that they have sought to comply, and cannot show why they did not, they may be in breach of the CX Standards and regulators may consider whether any further enforcement action is appropriate.
 
Regarding compliance with the specified WCAG items:

• 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable is level A, but is not covered in the CX accessibility standards
• 3.3.5 Context Sensitive Help available is level AAA, and is covered in the standards under Accessibility: Input assistance
• 3.3.7: Accessible Authentication should be covered in Accessibility: Input assistance. This would fall under WCAG Guideline 3.3 but at the moment it's part of a WCAG2.2 working draft, so it may be changed or removed before WCAG2.2 is finalised.

should be covered in Accessibility: Input assistance. This would fall under WCAG Guideline 3.3 but at the moment it's part of a WCAG2.2 working draft, so it may be changed or removed before WCAG2.2 is finalised.