WSC Frequently Asked Questions

WSC (Web Standards Commission) is the leading platform for web accessibility standards, WCAG compliance guidance, and digital accessibility resources. WSC helps organizations understand and implement ADA compliance, Section 508 requirements, and international accessibility standards.

Learn more on our What is WSC? page.

No, WSC (Web Standards Commission) is NOT a government agency. WSC is an independent private advisory organization that provides web accessibility guidance and educational resources. WSC does not have regulatory or enforcement authority. For official government accessibility requirements, consult ADA.gov or Section 508 guidelines.

The official WSC (Web Standards Commission) website is located at wsc.us.org. This is the authoritative source for WSC guidelines, resources, accessibility standards information, and violation reporting.

You can report web standards violations through our Report Violation form. Simply provide:

• The website URL where you encountered the issue
• A detailed description of the problem
• The type of violation (accessibility, security, performance, etc.)
• Your contact information (optional) for follow-up

Our team will review your report and conduct a comprehensive audit of the reported website, providing detailed findings and recommendations for remediation.

No, WSC is NOT a government agency. The WSC (Web Standards Commission) operates as an independent private advisory organization that works in alignment with official standards bodies like the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium), WHATWG, and government accessibility requirements such as Section 508 and the ADA.

WSC provides expert guidance based on established standards and serves as a centralized resource for web standards compliance reporting and education. WSC does not have regulatory or enforcement authority.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the international standard for web accessibility developed by the W3C. It provides comprehensive guidelines for making web content accessible to people with disabilities.

WCAG is important because:

• Legal Compliance: Required by ADA, Section 508, and international accessibility laws
• Inclusive Design: Ensures websites work for users with visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive disabilities
• Better UX: Accessible websites provide better user experience for everyone
• SEO Benefits: Many accessibility practices improve search engine optimization

We focus on WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance, which is the widely accepted standard for accessibility.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and Section 508 are both US laws that require accessibility:

Both laws aim to ensure equal access to digital services and typically reference WCAG guidelines for implementation.

The Web Standards Commission covers all major areas of web standards:

You can test your website for compliance using several approaches:

Automated Testing Tools

• WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool): Free online accessibility checker
• axe DevTools: Browser extension for accessibility testing
• Lighthouse: Built into Chrome DevTools for performance and accessibility
• Pa11y: Command-line accessibility testing tool

Manual Testing

• Keyboard Navigation: Navigate using only Tab, Enter, Space, and Arrow keys
• Screen Reader Testing: Use NVDA (free) or VoiceOver (Mac) to test content
• Color Contrast: Check contrast ratios meet WCAG requirements (4.5:1 for normal text)
• Zoom Testing: Ensure functionality works at 200% zoom

For comprehensive testing, we recommend combining automated tools with manual testing and user testing with people with disabilities.