-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	ACT Rules Format 1.1 is now a Web Standard (W3C Recommendation)
Resent-Date:	Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:03:52 +0000
Resent-From:	public-wai-announce@w3.org
Date:	Wed, 4 Feb 2026 23:03:50 -0600
From:	Shawn Lawton Henry <shawn@w3.org>
To:	public-wai-announce@w3.org

Dear WAI Interest Group,

We are pleased to announce that Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Rules Format 1.1 has been published as a "W3C Recommendation" Web Standard.

Overview

ACT Rules Format defines a format for writing accessibility test rules. The test rules can be used for developing automated testing tools and manual testing methodologies. This document provides a common format that allows anyone involved in accessibility testing to document and share their testing procedures in a robust and understandable manner. This enables transparency and harmonization of testing methods, including methods implemented by accessibility test tools.

For an introduction to ACT Rules, see Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Overview.

Changes from 1.0

ACT Rules Format 1.1:

• Allows for conformance and secondary accessibility requirements
• Allows subjective applicability statements

Details are listed in the Change History.

Thanks

W3C thanks everyone who contributed to this document. See Editors at the top of the document and contributors in the Acknowledgements section.

Regards,
Alastair Campbell and Rachael Bradley Montgomery, Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (AG WG) Co-Chairs
Daniel Montalvo, W3C Staff Contact for ACT Rules
Kevin White, Senior Principal Accessibility Specialist
Shawn Lawton Henry, Director, W3C Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

-- 
Shawn Lawton Henry
Director, W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
www.w3.org/People/Shawn