The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 became a W3C Recommendation in October 2023, bringing nine new success criteria designed to improve accessibility for people with cognitive and learning disabilities, people with low vision, and people with motor disabilities. If your organisation targets WCAG conformance, understanding these changes is essential.
Key New Success Criteria
Among the most impactful additions are Focus Not Obscured (2.4.11), Dragging Movements (2.5.7), and Target Size Minimum (2.5.8). Each of these criteria addresses real barriers that users encounter every day.
Focus Not Obscured (2.4.11 — Level AA)
When a user navigates with the keyboard, the focused element must not be entirely hidden by other content such as sticky headers, cookie banners, or chat widgets. This is a common issue on modern websites where fixed-position elements can obscure the focused component. The fix often involves adjusting scroll-padding or z-index stacking.
Dragging Movements (2.5.7 — Level AA)
Any functionality that relies on dragging must also offer a single-pointer alternative. Think of sliders, drag-and-drop file uploaders, or sortable lists. Users with motor disabilities often cannot perform dragging gestures, so providing buttons or other controls as alternatives is critical.
Target Size Minimum (2.5.8 — Level AA)
Interactive targets must be at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels, or have sufficient spacing from other targets. This criterion directly helps users with motor impairments and anyone using a touchscreen device. Inline links within text are exempt, but standalone buttons, icons, and form controls must comply.
What Was Removed
WCAG 2.2 also removed Success Criterion 4.1.1 Parsing, which required valid HTML. Modern browsers and assistive technologies have become robust enough to handle parsing issues, making this criterion obsolete.
How to Get Started
Start by auditing your current site against the new criteria. Focus on keyboard navigation, interactive target sizes, and any drag-based interactions. Automated tools can catch some issues, but manual testing with a keyboard and screen reader remains essential for a complete picture.
If you need help assessing your site against WCAG 2.2, our team at Uxaria can conduct a thorough accessibility audit and provide actionable remediation guidance.