Accessibility and inclusive design WORK IN PROGRESS
Guidelines
- Last reviewed
- 6 August 2026
- Owner
- DesignOps
Guidelines and design principles to help you create accessible, inclusive products and websites.
WCAG
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are the international standard for digital accessibility. Learn the principles, requirements and how to apply them in DfE products and services.
WCAG 2.2 provides recommendations for making websites and mobile applications more accessible to disabled people. Applying WCAG also makes digital services easier for everyone to use.
This guidance will help you to:
- understand the WCAG principles and requirements – understand what WCAG 2.2 is, the principles behind it and the level DfE products and services must meet.
- use the WCAG explorer – find accessibility requirements, understand how to meet them and learn how to test them.
Use WCAG alongside the Cognitive accessibility guidelines (COGA) and Universal design principles to create products and services that work for as many people as possible.
Cognitive accessibility guidelines
Design guidance to improve accessibility for people with cognitive and learning disabilities.
Universal design principles
Inclusive design principles to help create products and services that work for as many people as possible.
These guidelines complement WCAG by helping teams make inclusive design decisions throughout a project.