WCAG Level A Accessibility Checklist

WCAG Level A: The Minimum Accessibility Baseline

WCAG Level A represents the absolute minimum level of accessibility that every website should achieve. These criteria address the most critical barriers that would prevent users with disabilities from accessing content at all.

What Level A Covers

Level A criteria focus on fundamental requirements:

• Non-text content must have text alternatives (1.1.1)
• Keyboard access must be available for all functionality (2.1.1)
• No keyboard traps that prevent users from navigating away (2.1.2)
• Page titles must describe the topic or purpose (2.4.2)
• Language of page must be programmatically determined (3.1.1)
• Error identification must clearly describe input errors (3.3.1)

How to Audit Level A

Start by filtering the checklist to show only Level A criteria. Work through each principle systematically:

1. Perceivable — Check all images for alt text, verify captions on videos, ensure content structure is semantic
2. Operable — Test all functionality with keyboard only, check for focus traps, verify timing adjustments
3. Understandable — Verify page language, check form labels, test error messages
4. Robust — Validate HTML, check ARIA roles and properties

Common Level A Failures

The most frequently failed Level A criteria include:

• 1.1.1 Non-text Content — Missing or meaningless alt text on images
• 1.3.1 Info and Relationships — Form fields without associated labels
• 2.4.4 Link Purpose — Generic "click here" or "read more" link text
• 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value — Custom widgets missing ARIA attributes

Priority for Remediation

If your site fails multiple Level A criteria, prioritize fixes that affect the most users: keyboard accessibility (2.1.1), image alt text (1.1.1), and form labels (1.3.1) should be addressed first as they impact the largest number of assistive technology users.