Can you provide a list of legal accessibility frameworks/guidelines from across the globe?

Simon Tomes asked: 

I don't know every law, statute, and legislation across the globe, unfortunately, but from what I do know, WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is used or referenced in quite a few, so that is a good place to start. It's the primary benchmark used worldwide to make sure digital content works for everyone. Even that does not cover everything. Unfortunately, other areas, such as inclusive language, readability, and usability, are not built in. Meaning you can have a keyboard-accessible, compliant website, but it still takes you more than 100 tabs to get to where you need to be.

Here are a few details that might help point you in the right direction.
WCAG 2.2 was released back in late 2023. This is now the standard being written into modern regulations. It added new guidelines about cognitive accessibility and mobile use.

EN 301 549: This is the European "everything" standard. It includes WCAG for websites but also adds extra rules for hardware, such as ensuring an ATM or ticket kiosk isn't a brick wall for a disabled user. This is a technical standard, whereas the EAA is the law that enforces the standard.

European Accessibility Act (EAA): This was a landmark shift. As of June 2025, it moved into full enforcement, which took everyone by surprise, even though it has been around for a decade! It’s no longer just about the public sector. If you’re a private company selling smartphones, banking services, or e-commerce in the EU, accessibility is now a legal requirement, not a "nice to have."

UK Regulations: The UK public sector is now mandated to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA by 2026. For the private sector, the Equality Act 2010 remains the "catch-all" duty requiring reasonable adjustments for everyone.

United States (ADA Title II): This is the big news for 2026. A major update now requires all state and local government web content and mobile apps to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. We’ve passed the April 24, 2026, deadline for large organisations, so the pressure is officially on.

ADA Title III: This covers private businesses (the "public squares"). While the law itself is a bit vague on technical specs, the courts have made it crystal clear. If you aren't hitting WCAG 2.1 AA, you’re an easy target for a lawsuit.

Section 508: The rulebook for federal agencies. If you're selling software to the US government, this is your bible.

Canada (ACA & AODA): The Accessible Canada Act aims for a "barrier-free" country by 2040. Meanwhile, Ontario’s AODA remains one of the toughest provincial laws, requiring almost all organisations to comply with its rules.

Australia (DDA): The Disability Discrimination Act is broad and powerful. If someone can’t access your service, you’re likely in breach.

Japan and China: Both have their own national standards (JIS X 8341-3 and GB/T 37668-2019) that essentially translate the global WCAG rules for their specific markets.

From a quality point of view, these aren't just boxes to tick to keep the lawyers away. They are a set of requirements that help us build better products for humans. If you’re testing to WCAG 2.2 Level AA, you aren't just being "compliant", you're being professional.

That's why it makes sense to make accessibility part of your 'definition of done' or ways of working. 

Check out more answers in the AMA about Accessibility Testing collection.