Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
The Web Standards Commission is a professional platform dedicated to advancing web standards across accessibility, privacy, security, and technical compliance. We provide a comprehensive reporting system for web standards violations and offer extensive educational resources to help organizations achieve compliance with WCAG, ADA, Section 508, and other digital accessibility standards.
Our mission is to make the web more accessible, secure, and interoperable for everyone by promoting adherence to established web standards and best practices.
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.
The Web Standards Commission operates as an independent compliance reporting platform 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.
We provide expert guidance based on established standards and serve as a centralized resource for web standards compliance reporting and education.
Accessibility & WCAG Questions
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:
ADA
- Applies to places of public accommodation
- Covers private businesses open to the public
- No specific technical standards (courts reference WCAG)
- Private lawsuits and Department of Justice enforcement
Section 508
- Applies to federal agencies and contractors
- Covers government websites and technology
- Specific technical standards based on WCAG 2.0 Level AA
- Federal procurement and compliance enforcement
Both laws aim to ensure equal access to digital services and typically reference WCAG guidelines for implementation.
Technical Standards Questions
The Web Standards Commission covers all major areas of web standards:
Accessibility Standards
- WCAG 2.2 Guidelines
- Section 508 Compliance
- ADA Requirements
- EN 301 549 (European Standard)
Technical Standards
- HTML Living Standard
- CSS Specifications
- JavaScript/ECMAScript
- Web APIs and Performance
Privacy & Security
- GDPR Compliance
- HTTPS/TLS Security
- Privacy by Design
- Cookie Consent Standards
Performance Standards
- Core Web Vitals
- Page Speed Optimization
- Mobile Performance
- Progressive Enhancement
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.
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