/EINPresswire.com/ -- PROVIDENCE, RI--(Marketwired - January 10, 2018) - The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)'s Accessibility Guidelines Working Group has issued a "last call" for comments from the public regarding the updated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, which are forecasted to take effect as early as spring of 2018.

WCAG 2.1 will contain new standards for Levels A, AA, and AAA of the web accessibility guidelines, including character key shortcuts that will help minimize conflict with accessibility software such as screen readers and improved "zoom" functionalities on webpages. WCAG 2.1 will be backward compatible with 2.0, meaning that everything that existed in WCAG 2.0 will be interoperable with version 2.1. This will help make the transition easier as companies improve their accessibility in the coming years. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA) encourages all companies to review these guidelines to make plans for implementation in the coming months.

The Working Group will be issuing another call for comments before WCAG 2.1 becomes a final and formal recommendation, but this is expected to only be for minor changes.

For more information about the WCAG updates: https://www.boia.org/blog/wcag-2.1-what-you-need-to-know

About the Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA):

Mobile and Web accessibility compliance is a requirement, but trying to understand the WCAG 2.0 Guidelines and how they relate to ADA, ACAA, OCR, AODA, Section 508 and other compliance requirements, can be confusing. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA) has been helping eliminate the accessibility digital divide since 2001. The organization's reports, tools, and services have assisted businesses in improving, maintaining, and proving the accessibility of their websites. With services that include self-help tools, audits, training, remediation and implementation support, BoIA has the experience and expertise to ensure that accessibility efforts are worthwhile and successful. For more information, visit www.BoIA.org.