Standards explainer
How WCAG 2.2 differs from WCAG 2.1
Compliance bottom line
Illinois law (IITAA 2.1, effective June 24, 2024) and the federal ADA Title II rule both require WCAG 2.1 Level AA — that is the legal minimum and it is mandatory. WCAG 2.2 is not yet referenced by IITAA, so conforming to 2.2 is optional and forward-looking. We grade against 2.1 — the bar the law sets — and recognise 2.2 as where the standards are heading.
The short version
WCAG 2.2 doesn't replace 2.1 — it adds nine new success criteria and removes one (4.1.1 "Parsing", now obsolete). Everything your documents already needed for 2.1 Level AA still applies, unchanged. Of the nine additions, six are at Level A/AA (the compliance tier); three are Level AAA.
Almost all of the new rules target interactive web pages and apps — things like pointer dragging, tap-target size, and login flows. For a static document, most of them simply don't apply. A few can matter for interactive forms, and our audit flags those for manual review.
The six new Level A/AA rules, in plain terms
| New rule (level) | What it means | Affects our documents? |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Not Obscured (AA) | The item you tab to can't be hidden behind sticky headers/footers. | No — web UI only. |
| Dragging Movements (AA) | Anything done by dragging must also work with a simple tap/click. | No — web UI only. |
| Target Size (AA) | Clickable controls are at least 24×24 pixels. | Only interactive forms. |
| Consistent Help (A) | Help/contact options appear in the same place across pages. | No — multi-page web UI. |
| Redundant Entry (A) | Don't make people re-type information they already gave. | Only interactive forms. |
| Accessible Authentication (AA) | No memory/puzzle test required to log in. | No — login flows only; a document form is not a login. |
What this means for you
For ordinary documents (reports, memos, forms you only read), moving from 2.1 to 2.2 changes nothing about what this tool checks — the automated checks are identical. We display "WCAG 2.1" because that is the version the law names. The rules 2.2 adds are described on this page; the two that concern form controls (2.5.8 Target Size and 3.3.7 Redundant Entry) are also listed as "not assessed" on any PDF that has form fields, clearly marked as beyond the standard your grade measures. They are interactive and manual, and we will not pretend we tested them.
The audit reports against WCAG 2.1 by default, so what you see is already the legal minimum. An administrator can switch the display to WCAG 2.2 if your organization wants to report against the newer bar.