Cross-jurisdictional accessibility law reference. Maps Section 508, ADA, EN 301 549, European Accessibility Act, AODA, and other frameworks to WCAG versions, additional requirements, applicable sectors, and enforcement mechanisms.
Maps accessibility legal frameworks across jurisdictions. Used by compliance-mapping agent and any agent generating compliance reports.
| Framework | Jurisdiction | WCAG Version | Scope | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 508 (Revised) | US (Federal) | WCAG 2.0 AA | Federal agencies and their ICT | Administrative complaints, lawsuits |
| ADA Title II | US (State/Local) | WCAG 2.1 AA (DOJ 2024 rule) | State and local government websites | DOJ enforcement, lawsuits |
| ADA Title III | US (Private) | No explicit WCAG version; courts use 2.0/2.1 AA | Public accommodations | Private lawsuits, DOJ enforcement |
| EN 301 549 v3.2.1 | EU | WCAG 2.1 AA (Chapter 9-11) |
| Public sector + private sector ICT |
| EU member state enforcement |
| European Accessibility Act (EAA) | EU | WCAG 2.1 AA (via EN 301 549) | Private sector products and services (June 2025) | Market surveillance, fines |
| AODA | Ontario, Canada | WCAG 2.0 AA | Ontario organizations (50+ employees) | Administrative penalties |
| Accessible Canada Act | Canada (Federal) | WCAG 2.1 AA (guidance) | Federally regulated entities | CRTC/CTA enforcement, penalties |
| Israeli Standard 5568 | Israel | WCAG 2.0 AA | Public websites and apps | Civil lawsuits |
| JIS X 8341-3:2016 | Japan | WCAG 2.0 AA | Government websites (recommended) | No enforcement (voluntary) |
| Chinese GB/T 37668-2019 | China | Based on WCAG 2.0 | Government websites | Administrative guidance |
Some frameworks require more than WCAG conformance:
| Chapter | Requirement | Beyond WCAG |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 5 | Closed functionality (kiosks, ATMs) | Yes — no WCAG equivalent |
| Chapter 6 | Real-time text (RTT) communication | Yes — no WCAG equivalent |
| Chapter 7 | Video capabilities (captions, audio description) | Extends WCAG 1.2 |
| Chapter 8 | Hardware accessibility | Yes — physical product requirements |
| Chapter 10 | Non-web documents | Maps WCAG to document formats |
| Chapter 11 | Non-web software | Maps WCAG to native applications |
| Chapter 12 | Documentation and support services | Accessible help documentation |
| Chapter 13 | ICT providing relay or emergency services | Yes — no WCAG equivalent |
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) maps to three standards:
| VPAT Edition | Standards Covered |
|---|---|
| VPAT 2.5 Section 508 | Revised Section 508 (WCAG 2.0 AA) |
| VPAT 2.5 EU | EN 301 549 (WCAG 2.1 AA + Chapters 5-13) |
| VPAT 2.5 INT | Section 508 + EN 301 549 + WCAG 2.x |
Conformance levels in VPAT:
All of the above, plus:
| Event | Date | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Section 508 Refresh | January 2018 | Adopted WCAG 2.0 AA for federal ICT |
| EU Web Accessibility Directive | September 2018 (new sites), September 2020 (existing) | Public sector websites and mobile apps |
| ADA Title II WCAG 2.1 Rule | April 2026 (large), April 2027 (small) | State/local government web content |
| European Accessibility Act | June 2025 | Private sector products and services |
| AODA Full Compliance | January 2021 | Ontario organizations 50+ employees |