CMS Requirements for Government Accessibility (WCAG)
IntermediateQuick Answer
TL;DR
Government websites must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards under Section 508 (US), EN 301 549 (EU), and similar laws globally. CMS requirements for accessibility compliance include built-in alt text fields for images, heading structure enforcement, accessible rich text editors, color contrast checking, keyboard navigation support in the admin interface, and the ability to generate accessible HTML output. The CMS must also support accessible PDF generation and video caption management.
Key Takeaways
- WCAG 2.1 AA is the minimum legal standard for most government websites worldwide
- The CMS editor interface itself must be accessible (ATAG 2.0) so editors with disabilities can use it
- Alt text, captions, and heading fields must be required, not optional
- Automated accessibility scanning tools should integrate into the CMS publishing workflow
- Accessible PDF generation and video captioning support are frequently overlooked requirements