Explorance Blue Is WCAG 2.2 Certified: Why That Matters

Genuine accessibility means designing digital experiences that work for everyone from the start. As expectations and regulations around digital accessibility and compliance continue to evolve, educational institutions, government sectors, and organizations need platforms that are built with inclusion at their core.

Explorance Blue is now WCAG 2.2 certified, reinforcing Explorance commitment to accessible, equitable feedback experiences for all users.

This certification is more than a badge. It reflects a deeper dedication to inclusive design, legal readiness, and ensuring every voice can be heard without barriers.

What This Means for Explorance Blue Customers

With WCAG 2.2 certification, Explorance Blue provides institutions, organizations, and government sectors with more than accessibility compliance.

Customers benefit from:

• Stronger alignment with accessibility legislation and procurement requirements
• Reduced compliance risk for audits and public sector mandates
• More inclusive participation across surveys and feedback initiatives
• A better overall user experience for students, faculty, and staff
• Reliable compatibility with assistive technologies used across diverse user populations

Most importantly, it ensures that accessibility is built into the platform itself, so institutions don’t have to choose between insight, usability, and inclusion.

Understanding What WCAG 2.2 is

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, a set of internationally recognized standards that define how digital products should be designed so people with diverse access needs can perceive, navigate, and interact with them effectively.

The latest version, WCAG 2.2, builds on earlier guidelines by strengthening requirements for usability, navigation, and cognitive accessibility. These standards form the foundation of accessibility laws and policies worldwide, including Canada and the United States.

Certified platforms are designed to work effectively with assistive technologies such as screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and voice input tools. These considerations ensure users can interact with content in the way that works best for them, creating an inclusive experience for everyone.

What’s New in WCAG 2.2 Compared to 2.1

Explorance Blue was already WCAG 2.1 compliant, so the step to 2.2 builds on an already strong accessibility foundation. WCAG 2.2 is an additive update that introduces nine new, testable success criteria, enhancing areas such as keyboard and focus behavior, touch and drag interactions, authentication, and cognitive accessibility. One outdated criterion was removed, while full backward compatibility is maintained, meaning that conforming to 2.2 also satisfies 2.1.

What WCAG 2.2 Means for Accessibility in Canada?

In Canada, digital accessibility is embedded in law and policy at both the federal and provincial levels.

Frameworks such as the Accessible Canada Act and provincial legislation, including Québec’s Act to Secure Handicapped Persons in the Exercise of Their Rights and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, require public sector institutions, educational institutions, and many other organizations to provide accessible digital services aligned with recognized standards such as WCAG.

For Canadian institutions, WCAG compliance supports:

• Legal accountability and alignment with federal and provincial accessibility requirements
• Stronger positioning in public sector procurement and RFP processes
• Reduced compliance risk and increased public trust
• Equitable access across bilingual and diverse user communities

What WCAG 2.2 Means for Accessibility in The United States?

In the United States, WCAG serves as a key reference for digital accessibility requirements under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 508. While these regulations may not mandate a specific WCAG version, achieving WCAG 2.2 certification demonstrates a proactive approach to accessibility and legal readiness.

For US institutions and organizations, this certification helps:

• Ensure alignment with federal and state accessibility expectations
• Reduce exposure to accessibility complaints or litigation
• Provide confidence during vendor evaluations and compliance reviews
• Improve accessibility across digital platforms for students, employees, and the public

Who Defines WCAG Standards

WCAG is developed by the World Wide Web Consortium, the international organization responsible for global web standards. Certification to WCAG 2.2 signals adherence to trusted, vendor-neutral accessibility benchmarks recognized worldwide.

Why WCAG 2.2 Matters Today

WCAG 2.2 reflects a shift in how accessibility is understood. It goes beyond technical compliance to focus on real usability, especially for individuals with visual, motor, and cognitive disabilities.

The updated guidelines strengthen keyboard navigation, improve focus visibility, reduce interaction friction, and enhance support for assistive technologies. Certified platforms are designed to work effectively with screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and voice input tools, ensuring users can interact with content in the way that works best for them.

A 6-Month Commitment to Doing Accessibility Right

Achieving WCAG 2.2 certification wasn’t a checkbox exercise. It was a six-month, product-wide effort led by our dedicated product team.

This process involved:

• Deep accessibility audits
• Design and interaction refinements
• Rigorous testing with accessibility criteria in mind
• Continuous iteration to meet and exceed WCAG 2.2 requirements

This work reflects our belief that accessibility is a long-term responsibility, not a one-time milestone.

Building Insight Without Barriers

At Explorance, accessibility is central to our mission of empowering meaningful feedback.

With WCAG 2.2 certification, Explorance Blue continues to support institutions in listening to every voice responsibly, inclusively, and at scale. Because when feedback platforms are accessible, insights are stronger and the impact goes further.