Free UK ADA & Equality Act Compliance Checker — WCAG 2.2 AA Test 2026

UK Accessibility Laws — What Applies to You?

The UK has three main accessibility laws that apply to websites:

What is the Equality Act 2010?

The Equality Act 2010 is the UK's main anti-discrimination law. It consolidates over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. The Act requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people — including making your website accessible.

Key requirements under the Equality Act:

• Reasonable adjustments — You must make changes to ensure disabled users are not at a substantial disadvantage
• Anticipatory duty — You cannot wait for a complaint; you must act proactively
• Technical standard — The EHRC recommends WCAG 2.2 Level AA
• Enforcement — Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

What is PSBAR 2018?

The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 is a UK law that applies specifically to public sector organisations. It requires all public sector websites and mobile apps to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA.

Key requirements under PSBAR:

• WCAG 2.2 Level AA — Legal requirement for all public sector websites
• Accessibility statement — Mandatory on every public sector website
• Annual monitoring — Ongoing monitoring and updates
• Compliance reporting — Annual compliance report

Equality Act 2010 vs ADA — What's the Difference?

Many people ask: „Is the Equality Act the UK version of the ADA?" Here's the answer:

Conclusion: Both laws require accessible websites, but the UK uses WCAG 2.2 Level AA while the US uses WCAG 2.1 Level AA. WCAG 2.2 adds 9 new success criteria focused on mobile and cognitive accessibility.

WCAG 2.2 AA — The UK Accessibility Standard

WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the international standard for web accessibility. It is the recommended standard for UK websites under the Equality Act 2010 and the required standard for UK public sector bodies under PSBAR 2018.

What's new in WCAG 2.2?

WCAG 2.2 adds 9 new success criteria compared to WCAG 2.1:

• 2.5.7 Dragging Movements — All operations that use dragging can be performed with a single pointer
• 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) — Pointer targets must be at least 24x24 CSS pixels
• 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) — Focus indicators must not be fully hidden
• 3.2.6 Consistent Help — Help mechanisms must appear in the same place on every page
• 3.3.7 Redundant Entry — Information previously entered should be auto-populated
• 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication — Authentication should not require cognitive function tests

How to Test Your Website for UK Compliance

Step 1: Run a UK ADA Check

Use the free UK ADA checker to scan your website against WCAG 2.2 Level AA. You'll get an instant report with violations and solutions.

Step 2: Fix Critical Violations

Focus on the most common violations:

• Alt text — Add descriptive text to all images
• Colour contrast — Ensure minimum 4.5:1 contrast
• Keyboard accessibility — All functions with Tab key
• Form labels — Labels for all fields
• Heading structure — Logical H1-H6 hierarchy

Step 3: Publish an Accessibility Statement

Publish an accessibility statement on your website (mandatory for public sector, recommended for private sector).

Step 4: Document Everything

Document all tests and improvements. This serves as evidence of your compliance efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions — UK ADA Checker

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Compliance obligations under the Equality Act, PSBAR, and EAA may vary by jurisdiction. For your specific situation, consult a qualified legal professional.