WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the legal benchmark for web accessibility in the US, EU, Canada, and most jurisdictions worldwide. But 78 success criteria is a lot to work through. This checklist focuses on the issues that appear most frequently, cause the most harm to users, and are most commonly cited in ADA lawsuits.
Use this alongside WebPossum's automated scanner — automated tools catch about 40% of issues instantly, and this checklist covers the rest.
Text and visual content
Check these items
- All images have descriptive alt text (or alt="" if decorative)
- Text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against its background
- Large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold) has a contrast ratio of at least 3:1
- Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of content or functionality
- No information is conveyed by color alone
- Text spacing can be adjusted without loss of content (line height, letter spacing, word spacing)
Navigation and structure
Check these items
- Every page has a unique, descriptive <title> tag
- The page language is declared in the <html lang=""> attribute
- Headings are used in logical order (H1 → H2 → H3, no skipping)
- A "Skip to main content" link is the first focusable element on every page
- Navigation is consistent across pages
- The page has landmark regions (header, nav, main, footer)
- Links have descriptive text (no "click here" or "read more" alone)
Keyboard and focus
Check these items
- All interactive elements are reachable and operable by keyboard alone
- No keyboard traps — users can always Tab out of any component
- Focus order is logical and follows the visual layout
- Focus indicators are clearly visible on all interactive elements
- Focus indicators meet WCAG 2.2's minimum size and contrast requirements (new in 2.2)
- No content requires more than a single pointer gesture (pinch, swipe) — or an alternative exists
Forms and inputs
Check these items
- Every input field has an associated <label> element
- Required fields are clearly identified (not just by color)
- Error messages identify which field has an error and how to fix it
- Form inputs use appropriate autocomplete attributes
- Authentication does not rely on cognitive function tests alone (new in 2.2)
- Users can review and correct submissions before finalizing
Media and dynamic content
Check these items
- All videos have accurate captions
- All audio content has a text transcript
- Videos do not autoplay with sound
- Animations can be paused, stopped, or hidden
- No content flashes more than 3 times per second
- Popups, dialogs, and tooltips are accessible by keyboard and announced by screen readers
Code and markup
Check these items
- HTML is valid and well-structured
- ARIA roles and attributes are used correctly
- Interactive components have correct name, role, and value attributes
- Status messages are announced to screen readers without requiring focus
- No duplicate IDs exist in the HTML
New in WCAG 2.2 (often missed)
WCAG 2.2 added 9 new success criteria that many sites haven't addressed yet. The ones most likely to appear in audits:
- 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) — focused components must not be completely hidden by sticky headers or other content
- 2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced) — focused components must be fully visible (AAA, but worth knowing)
- 2.4.13 Focus Appearance — focus indicators must meet minimum size and contrast requirements
- 2.5.7 Dragging Movements — functionality requiring dragging must have a single-pointer alternative
- 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) — interactive targets must be at least 24×24 CSS pixels
- 3.2.6 Consistent Help — help mechanisms must appear in the same location across pages
- 3.3.7 Redundant Entry — information entered previously must not be required again in the same session
- 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) — no cognitive function tests unless an alternative is provided
Run the automated check first
This checklist is most effective when combined with automated scanning. WebPossum's free scanner identifies all detectable violations instantly — then use this checklist to cover the items that require manual review.
Start with a free automated audit →
WebPossum scans against WCAG 2.2 Level AA and shows every violation with element-level detail and fix guidance.
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WebPossum scans against WCAG 2.2 Level AA and shows every violation with element-level detail and fix guidance.
Scan your website at webpossum.com — no signup required