Accessibility Audit

Purpose of an Accessibility Audit

An accessibility audit is a structured evaluation of digital products to identify barriers that affect users with disabilities. These audits gauge how well platforms align with accessibility guidelines, especially the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The goal is not only legal compliance, but also practical usability for all users.

What Gets Audited

Audits apply to more than just websites. Key digital assets include: mobile apps (iOS and Android), web applications, PDFs and Office documents, e-books and multimedia, content management systems (CMS), learning management systems (LMS), digital kiosks, social media content, VR/AR applications, and tools like chatbots and booking systems.

Accessibility Standards Involved

Most audits use WCAG as the primary benchmark, structured across three levels: A, AA, and AAA. Other relevant standards include PDF/UA for accessible documents. Standards ensure that users can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with content reliably.

Methods of Conducting Audits

Audits are performed using one or more of the following approaches:

Automated Audits

Automated tools scan for code-level issues and common violations. They are efficient for wide coverage but miss context-sensitive issues such as improper alt text or unclear link labels.

Manual Audits

Human experts assess user experience, content clarity, keyboard accessibility, and screen reader behavior. This method captures issues automation cannot detect, but requires more time and expertise.

Hybrid Audits

Combining automated scans with manual evaluation offers a balanced approach. Basic issues are flagged by software, while deeper usability concerns are handled by specialists.

Legal Context for Accessibility Audits

Accessibility audits are often required under laws such as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). These laws typically reference WCAG as the standard of compliance. Regular audits help demonstrate good faith efforts and proactive inclusion.

Scope of an Audit

Audit scopes vary and may include full website reviews, specific templates or page types, mobile applications, or select content like documents or videos. Clear scoping defines priorities and resource allocation.

Notable Auditing Tools

Web tools include WAVE (browser extension for visual accessibility feedback), accessScan (free WCAG conformance checker), and Web Accessibility Extension (tests and generates reports on WCAG 2.1 AA issues). Mobile tools include VoiceOver and Accessibility Inspector for iOS, and TalkBack and Accessibility Scanner for Android. Document tools include Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Accessibility Checker, Microsoft Office built-in accessibility checkers, PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker), and PAVE (online tool for PDF elements).

Accessibility as an Ongoing Effort

Audits aren't one-and-done. Continuous updates, regular checkpoints, and real-world user feedback help maintain accessibility as designs and technologies evolve. Including people with disabilities in testing processes helps uncover lived-experience issues missed by standard audits.