What is WCAG and Why Should You Care?
As music educators, we pride ourselves on creating inclusive, inspiring environments where every student feels seen, supported, and capable of success. We differentiate instruction, scaffold learning, and provide multiple avenues for musical expression — because we know that every child learns differently. But in our increasingly digital world, true inclusion extends beyond the physical classroom. It requires that the online tools we rely on are accessible to every learner — including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, and physical disabilities. That’s where WCAG comes in.
What Exactly is WCAG?
WCAG stands for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, a set of international standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Think of them as the modern-day accessibility rulebook for digital learning environments. WCAG outlines how to make digital content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users of all abilities — including those who use screen readers, alternative input devices, text-to-speech, or other assistive technologies. And this isn’t just theoretical. WCAG is the foundation for accessibility requirements under Section 508, the ADA, and many state education policies. In other words: if your school or district cares about accessibility (and they do), WCAG matters.
Why Should Music Educators Care?
At first glance, accessibility guidelines may seem like something the IT department should worry about, not band directors, choir teachers, or music technology instructors. But here’s the reality: If your music classroom uses digital tools — notation platforms, practice apps, learning management systems, recording software, or assessment technology — then accessibility is your responsibility, too. Because accessibility is:
About equity — ensuring every student can participate fully
About compliance — schools must use accessible technology
About musicianship — music is for everyone
And beyond legal obligations, there's a deeper reason: Our mission as music educators is fundamentally inclusive. We all know this. Whether a student is visually impaired, has dyslexia, struggles with fine motor control, or processes information differently — they deserve full access to the joy of creating and learning music.
Enter the VPAT: Your Accessibility Assurance
A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is a formal third-party evaluation that certifies whether a technology product meets WCAG and Section 508 standards. It’s like a digital accessibility report card for your product. Not all ed-tech companies pursue VPAT validation — and many who do fall short of full compliance. Passing a VPAT isn't easy. It requires intentional design, engineering investment, and a commitment to supporting all learners. That’s why I'm proud to share that the MusicFirst Classroom recently underwent a rigorous third-party VPAT assessment and we passed with flying colors. First off, there are four grades you can get on each requirement of a VPAT: Fully Supports, Partially Supports, Does Not Support or Not Applicable. These requirements focus in on the ways that students with various learning differences interact with your product. At MusicFirst, we have always been at least the “partially supports” level, but I really wanted to push it to “fully supports”. That’s the best you can do, and I feel that our students deserve the very best. This was not a trivial undertaking by any means. We spent months developing ways for our platform to be more accessible and usable by students with and without learning differences. So what does that mean for the teachers an dstudents who use the MusicFirst Classroom on a daily basis?
You can have confidence that our learning environment meets ALL accessibility standards
It’s an improved experience for learners using assistive technologies
You now have assurance for district tech reviewers and special education administrators
MusicFirst has continued our unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and universal access
This certification isn’t a finish line — it’s a milestone. Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and we will continue refining, testing, and improving the user experience for every student who enters your digital music room. Even with accessible platforms like the MusicFirst Classroom, there are a few simple ways to support accessibility daily: You should always try to provide digital music that works with screen readers when possible. Use the closed caption feature when showing your students instructional videos. Always offer written, audio, and visual directions. Be mindful of color contrast and text size in shared materials. An finally, ask students what they need, listen to them, and then action that.
The next generation of music technology — including AI-powered learning tools, adaptive practice systems, and immersive digital instruments — must be designed for every learner. WCAG gives us the framework to do that responsibly and equitably. As you continue building a joyful, rigorous music program, remember: Accessibility isn’t just about compliance — it’s about compassion, creativity, and commitment to our students. Music transforms lives. Let’s ensure every student can participate in that transformation.