How to Run an Effective Web Accessibility Audit

Creating accessible digital products is not just a legal requirement, it is good design. A web accessibility audit helps ensure that everyone, including users with access needs, can use your website or app with ease. It checks how well your product meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, the global standard for inclusive digital experiences.

The goal of an accessibility audit is simple: find and fix the barriers that stop people from perceiving, operating, or understanding your content. A proper audit looks at every part of your digital product, from design and content to code and user interactions.

An audit typically covers:

• Design: color contrast, spacing, visual hierarchy.

• Content: language clarity, heading structure, alt text.

• Code and Semantics: HTML validity, ARIA roles.

• Interaction: keyboard navigation, focus order.

• Multimedia: captions, transcripts, playback controls.

Before starting, clearly define what you will test, such as specific pages, templates, or key user flows. Then identify which WCAG 2.2 criteria and level (A, AA, or AAA) apply. Set up your test environment with the latest browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and assistive technologies like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver. Make sure you can navigate with a keyboard alone.

Choose reliable tools such as axe DevTools, WAVE, and Lighthouse for automated scans, along with contrast analyzers and HTML validators. Testing mobile applications also requires platform-specific utilities: Google Accessibility Scanner for Android solutions and Xcode Accessibility Tools for iOS. Finally, decide on your reporting format so each issue includes an ID, WCAG reference, description, severity, and recommended fix.

Structure and Semantics

Your page structure sets the foundation for accessibility. Make sure headings follow a logical hierarchy, use proper landmarks (header, main, footer), and validate all HTML. Only use ARIA roles when necessary and ensure lists, tables, and forms use semantic tags.

Text and Content

Good content helps everyone. Use clear page titles, descriptive link text, and accurate alt text for images. Avoid placing text inside images and declare the correct page language to assist screen readers.

Visual Design

Test color contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text) and ensure users can resize text up to 200% without breaking the layout. Do not rely on color alone to show errors or states, and make sure focus indicators are visible and consistent.

Keyboard and Interaction

Every feature should work with a keyboard. Check that tab order follows a logical path and focus never gets trapped in modals. Add "Skip to main content" links and ensure dynamic elements like menus or accordions communicate changes to assistive tech.

Forms and Inputs

Each input needs a visible, programmatically linked label. Provide examples or help text where needed, and make error messages clear and specific. Validation should not depend on color and must work with screen readers.

Multimedia and Animations

Include captions for videos, transcripts for audio, and audio descriptions for key visuals. Users should be able to pause or stop motion and control autoplay. Avoid flashing content and offer options to reduce or disable motion.

Navigation and Orientation

Keep navigation consistent across pages. Use breadcrumbs or sitemaps to help users stay oriented. Menus should be accessible by both touch and keyboard, and links should look and behave the same everywhere.

Error Handling and Feedback

When users take an action, such as submitting a form, provide clear and accessible feedback. Use ARIA live regions for real-time updates and summarize errors so screen readers can announce them. For irreversible actions, add a confirmation or undo step.

Compatibility and Performance

Test your site on various browsers, devices, and assistive tools. Ensure pages load quickly and use progress indicators for long processes.

A thorough audit combines several methods:

• Automated Testing: run scans to find obvious issues.

• Manual Expert Review: test keyboard navigation and screen reader output.

• Assistive Technology Testing: perform real tasks using tools like NVDA or VoiceOver.

• User Testing: observe users with disabilities in real scenarios.

• Regression Testing: recheck important flows after fixes.

An effective Web Accessibility Audit Report must be a comprehensive document designed to inform both leadership and technical teams. It begins with a high-level Executive Summary that immediately states the conformance status (e.g., "Partially meets WCAG 2.2 Level AA"), presents key metrics like the total number of issues, and highlights the most critical blockers. This is followed by a clear Scope and Methodology section, detailing the specific WCAG version, target conformance level, and the testing environment, including the browsers and Assistive Technologies used. The core of the report is the Detailed Findings (Issue Log), where every defect is meticulously documented with a unique ID, the exact WCAG Reference that failed, an assigned Severity level, a detailed Technical Description of the problem, and a clear, actionable Recommended Fix for developers. This structured approach ensures managers can assess risk quickly, while technical teams receive the precise guidance needed for efficient remediation.

This is how your Web Accessibility Audit may look:

At UKAD, we combine technical expertise with a human approach to accessibility. Our QA specialists carry out WCAG 2.2 audits, guide remediation efforts, and help teams build ongoing accessibility monitoring.

We test your digital products with both automated tools and real assistive technologies so you get results that are practical and ready to act on.

Request an Accessibility Audit!