WCAG Checkers cannot save you from lawsuits-The smarter way to audit

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WCAG testing done with an automated scan gives a false sense of security. An automated accessibility plugin or an accessibility checker cannot make your website compliant. These tools can offer a comforting illusion that everything is covered. They may display reassuring green checkmarks and generate tidy compliance reports. However, most automated tools miss up to 75% of accessibility issues. This technical shortfall is also a legal and financial ticking time bomb.

Digital accessibility lawsuits are rising and a single oversight could land your business in court. Accessibility law can now cost you thousands in legal fees and potential settlements. So, you should know about the hard limits of a WCAG compliance checker.

Limitations of Automated WCAG Tools

Automated WCAG checkers and browser plugins are often the first steps companies take toward accessibility. They are easy to use, quick to install and offer instant feedback but they provide limited detection with Poor ARIA implementation. They give reports with no human context and a false sense of compliance.

1. Most automated checkers can only detect 20-30% of Level A and Level AA issues.
2. Automated tools cannot understand the context.
3. They do not know if your alt text is meaningful or if your link text makes sense when read a loud.
4. Many businesses assume they are protected by looking at the official reports these tools generate. But these reports do not hold up in court.
5. Content that changes based on user actions like dropdowns, modals and JavaScript-heavy forms often goes completely untested.
6. Many tools struggle to evaluate ARIA roles and attributes correctly through testing tools.

The bottom line is that automated WCAG accessibility checker tools are blind to the real user experience.

Accessibility plugins are the real threat

Over 4,600 lawsuits related to web accessibility were filed in 2023 alone. There was a 43% increase in cases from the previous year.

Based in New Jersey, Stein Saks, PLLC has been one of the most prolific filers of ADA website accessibility lawsuits. In 2023 alone, the firm filed 568 such lawsuits .Their approach often involves serial plaintiffs and boilerplate complaints aiming for quick settlements rather than genuine accessibility improvements.

Big corporations small businesses, e-commerce stores, and even non-profits have faced legal action because they fail to meet basic accessibility standards.

When does an automated WCAG compliance checker fail

You installed a plugin to scan your website and found zero issues. A quick scan to save you from a lawsuit sounds great, but certain things could still go wrong:

Alt Text Errors

The tool says your images have alt text, but the descriptions are either irrelevant or just say “image.” A screen reader user finds your product images useless.

Keyboard Navigation

Your modal window opens with a mouse click but cannot be closed with a keyboard. The tool does not flag this but a real user cannot exit the modal.

Color Contrast

Automated color checks for a button text cannot detect its limit in actual usage. Glare and low brightness can also make the text unreadable for people with low vision.

Misleading ARIA Labels

Misapplied ARIA labels for form fields are also a limit. The automated tool passes them, but screen readers misinterpret them entirely.

Automation cannot pick these issues, but they create real user barriers and legal risks for you.

False WCAG test results hurt real users

Relying solely on automated tools sends the wrong message to your users. Disabled users suffer when accessibility is treated as a box to check.

People with disabilities deserve functional, user-friendly digital experiences. When they encounter broken forms, inaccessible menus and confusing layouts, it sends a clear message that this site was not made for you.

Some plugins inject overlays or code that interfere with screen readers or keyboard functions. These solutions can end upmaking websites even more inaccessible.

So ask yourself, are you trying to dodge a lawsuit or actually make your website usable for everyone?

The smarter way to audit is manual WCAG testing

Manual accessibility testing is the only reliable way to ensure WCAG compliance.  Trained experts go through your site like real users do. They check if links are understandable and if navigation makes sense. Audit experts ensure that interactiveelements work with assistive tech. Here is what you get with comprehensive manual audits.

Assistive tech testing: Your website is tested using screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and other assistive devices to mimic real-world experiences.

WCAG benchmarking: Manual testers at ADACP evaluate your site against WCAG 2.2 and 2.1 standards at Level A and AA.

Actionable reports: We do not provide vague auto-generated reports. You get detailed, prioritized recommendations with clear remediation steps.

Re-testing: Once fixes are implemented, a second round of manual testing verifies compliance.

Ongoing monitoring: We offer regular audits every 3-6 months that help you stay compliant as your website evolves.

A practical WCAG compliance timeline

Spend a week on preliminary scans using automated tools to identify quick wins and surface-level accessibility issues.

Dedicate 2 to 3 weeks for a thorough manual audit conducted by accessibility experts. Uncover deeper, more complex barriers that tools often miss.

You will get a detailed report and a prioritized action plan by week 4. Weeks 5 through 8 are for implementing the recommended changes. Then, in Week 9, conduct a re-audit to verify compliance. This timeline is enough to maintain accessibility and avoid future risks.  

Best practice for accessibility compliance with ADACP

ADACP does not just run checkers, we are your hands-on partner for true accessibility.

Certified Experts: Our testers are trained in WCAG 2.1/2.2 and use real assistive technologies.

Comprehensive Audits: We dive deep into your code, content, and user flows.

Rapid Remediation Support: Our consultants help your dev team fix issues fast.

Zero Legal Guesswork: We stay updated on the latest ADA and global regulations so you can avoid lawsuits and penalties.

Conclusion

Relying only on a WCAG Accessibility Checker or an automated plugin to protect your business can open the door for legal and reputational damage. Stop gambling on automation-only solution sand choose the smarter way of manual accessibility testing. It is the only way to serve your users and stay compliant genuinely.

Why wait for a lawsuit to force your hand? Partner with ADACP today and achieve total web accessibility. Click here for a free accessibility consultation and further discussions on WCAG compliance audits.