Global Accessibility Standards: A Comparative Overview

As more countries improve accessibility standards, groups no longer depend on guesswork. They need clarity about what each standard expects and how this differs across the world.

Global accessibility standards are the laws that govern whether your website or product is accessible to all people, including people with disabilities. 

Yet as there are so many standards across regions, understanding how they compare is crucial for any organization involved in working with international users.

A comparison will help you know where you are in this guide!

Global Accessibility Standards

Below are the most popular accessibility standards globally. Most of them reference WCAG, but each one has its own purpose, legal framework and audience.

1. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

The core of digital access worldwide is WCAG. This outlines precise guidelines that allow people with disabilities to use websites, apps and other digital content to fit with their disability. The W3C is a global standards organization.

WCAG Levels (A, AA, AAA)

• Level A: The basic accessibility requirements.
• Level AA: The law standard that most people understand. It was designed to be easily understood, clear and compatible with assistive tools.
• Level AAA: The highest level possible, suitable for advanced accessibility needs but not required by most regulations.

2. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

The ADA is an American civil rights law. Although it was before digital, U.S. courts now attribute the site to websites and online services. This means businesses must ensure their digital platforms can be made available.

3. Section 508 (United States)

Section 508 is a federal law required for electronic and information technology from U.S. government agencies to be accessible. All of these include sites, systems, documents, software, and digital tools.

4. EN 301 549 (European Standard)

In the European Union, EN 301 549 is the national accessibility standard. It includes websites, mobile applications, documents, software, digital services, hardware, and kiosks.

5. European Accessibility Act (EAA)

These requirements are specific to the digital products and services that are sold or run in EU markets, but they must also meet accessibility standards in accordance with EN 301 549 and WCAG. Compliance becomes law in the EU.

The EAA expands accessibility requirements beyond the public sector. It applies to:

• Ecommerce websites
• Online services
• Banking services
• Mobile apps
• Digital devices
• Transport and communication services

6. ISO 30071-1

The Technical checklist is not ISO 30071-1. It is structured and enables organizations to create a framework for accessing their design, development, and testing processes.

7. Other Regional Laws

Canada: AODA / ACA

Ontario’s AODA requires all public-facing websites to meet WCAG AA. It has accessibility requirements for federal institutions throughout the nation under the Accessible Canada Act.

UK: Equality Act

The Equality Act calls for digital services to be accessible. Instead, it does not refer to WCAG; the UK government strongly recommends WCAG AA as the standard.

Australia and others

Australia, New Zealand and Singapore are not specialized in web access. But they based their requirement on WCAG AA in the public and private digital services.

Comparative Overview of Global Accessibility Standards

Here is a clear comparison of how global accessibility standards differ:

Standard	Region	Legal Status	Coverage Scope	Based On	Who Must Comply
WCAG	Global	Not a law	Web, apps, digital content	WCAG 2.1 / 2.2	All organizations
ADA	USA	Law	Websites, digital services	Uses WCAG principles	Businesses, public services
Section 508	USA (Federal)	Law	Federal ICT, websites, software	WCAG AA	Federal agencies + vendors
EN 301 549	EU	Standard	Web, docs, apps, software, hardware	WCAG	Public sector + suppliers
EAA	EU	Law	Digital services, e-commerce, devices	EN 301 549 + WCAG	Businesses operating in the EU
ISO 30071-1	Global	Voluntary	Product development and workflow process	WCAG aligned	Enterprises, digital product teams
AODA	Canada (Ontario)	Law	Websites, digital content	WCAG AA	Public + private organizations
UK Equality Act	UK	Law	Websites, digital services	Guided by WCAG	All organizations

How to Achieve Accessibility Compliance

Accessibility compliance requires changing your digital life, addressing barriers, and retaining accessibility in your ongoing work.

1. Start with an Accessibility Audit

• Automated Testing: Fast scans with an accessibility audit tool for common errors such as contrast, missing alt text and form errors.
• Manual Testing: Checks visual layout, navigation, keyboard access and content structure.
• Accessible User Testing: Real users test screen readers, magnifiers, or keyboard-only navigation, to discover practical barriers.

2. Fix and Improve Problem Areas

• New design: Enhance contrast, spacing, and clarity on interactive elements.
• Code fixes: Use semantic HTML, correct ARIA roles, and maintain full keyboard support.
• Content Improvements: New alt text, clear headings, information links, captions and transcripts.

3. Ongoing Compliance

• Team Training: Educate teams on accessibility.
• Regular checks: Check for accessibility with the access monitor when a new release or a major content update goes into effect.
• Accessible Workflows: Incorporate accessibility checks into design, development and publishing processes.

Conclusion

Accessibility standards may differ between regions, but they are universal and converge to the same goal. Though each law has its own rules and enforcement levels, most do refer to WCAG as the guideline.

Access for businesses is not a question of avoiding legal risk. This is a way to reach a wider audience, increase the user experience and build trust over time.

In keeping everyone in compliance, auditing your digital products, providing barriers, and maintaining accessible workflows, you will remain compliant and create a more inclusive experience for everyone.