WCAG Compliance Mandate

WCAG Compliance Mandate in Brazil

Overview

The WCAG Compliance Mandate in Brazil is a regulation that requires websites and digital content to be accessible to people with disabilities. It is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, an international standard created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The goal is to ensure everyone, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities, can use online services without barriers.

Key Requirements

The law follows WCAG 2.1 guidelines, which focus on four main principles:

  1. Perceivable – Information must be presented in ways that users can perceive (e.g., text alternatives for images, captions for videos).
  2. Operable – Websites must be easy to navigate (e.g., keyboard-friendly, no flashing content that could cause seizures).
  3. Understandable – Content should be clear and predictable (e.g., simple language, consistent navigation).
  4. Robust – Websites must work well with assistive technologies like screen readers.

Compliance Deadlines

While the enforcement timeline may vary, Brazil has adopted WCAG standards in the public and private sectors to align with global accessibility best practices. Organisations are encouraged to comply as soon as possible to avoid legal risks and ensure inclusivity.

Based on Official Guidelines

This explanation is based on the official WCAG 2.1 document by the W3C. For more details, refer to the full guidelines here:
https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/