Complete Guide to Digital Accessibility Audits

Done right, a digital accessibility audit can help you identify accessibility barriers, understand how well your digital content complies with legal frameworks like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and conform to accessibility standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(opens in a new tab) (WCAG). It can also help you meet requirements in international accessibility laws, including the European Accessibility Act(opens in a new tab) (EAA) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act(opens in a new tab) (AODA). 

More importantly, an accessibility audit creates a path towards more inclusive digital experiences. And doing so yields numerous benefits — from an increase in your bottom line and better brand reputation to higher SEO rankings and more.

Below, we’ll discuss the importance of digital accessibility and provide tips on how to run a successful website accessibility audit.

What is a Digital Accessibility Audit?

Before we dive into what a digital accessibility audit is, a quick review of digital accessibility.

Digital accessibility is the practice of designing and developing digital content — including websites, mobile apps, online documents, etc. — so that individuals with disabilities can access, understand, and interact with it effectively. This includes adapting digital elements to be more usable for individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, or physical disabilities or impairments using standards like WCAG. 

The approach is comprised of:

• Accessibility testing: Accessibility testing is a type of usability testing that focuses on ensuring digital environments are operable for everyone and function well with assistive technologies like screen readers. For context, screen readers convert text displayed on a computer into a usable format for people with visual impairments.

• Website accessibility: Similar to digital accessibility, web accessibility means that websites, mobile apps, and other digital elements are designed and developed so individuals with disabilities can use them. 

• Accessibility compliance: Compliance refers to adhering to legal regulations and guidelines that ensure digital environments are accessible to people with disabilities.

A digital accessibility audit is a detailed, expert-driven analysis of how well people with disabilities can access your digital content. During the audit, your digital content is reviewed against WCAG 2.1 and ADA standards to see whether you’re meeting requirements. The evaluation also determines whether there are existing accessibility issues on your site and provides recommendations on how to fix them.

Types of Accessibility Audits

There are a few different types of accessibility audits: full audits, risk audits, expert audits, and automated testing. 

• Full accessibility audit: A full accessibility audit (also known as a detailed audit) identifies accessibility issues based on WCAG 2.1, ADA, Section 508, or other international accessibility law standards and provides recommendations for fixes. If you’ve never tested your site for accessibility, you’ll want to conduct a full accessibility audit. 

• Risk audit: A risk audit is less comprehensive than a full audit. It only looks for the most severe accessibility issues that users with disabilities encounter. However, these reports do not provide guidance on how to resolve issues. These audits are frequently used to get a fast, high-level overview of accessibility.

• Automated testing: Automated testing relies on software to conduct accessibility testing. For example, AudioEye’s free Web Accessibility Scanner uses AI-driven technology to find and fix common accessibility issues, making real-time updates and improvements to your digital content with minimal input required from your team.

• Expert audits: While most accessibility audits rely on automated testing, top-performing platforms use a combination of both automated and human testing to enhance accessibility further. Automated testing is fast and cost-effective; however, software alone can’t detect all accessibility issues. Human testing bridges the gap by finding and fixing more complex accessibility issues. Together, automated and expert testing enhances accessibility and creates a more usable platform for users.

How to Conduct an Accessibility Audit

Organizations that are new to accessibility might find the process of auditing all their digital content daunting. However, it is doable — especially with the right guidance and technology.

Depending on an organization's size and the scope of its digital assets, there are several options for conducting an audit. For some, a basic risk audit — which only tests for the most significant barriers to accessibility with the goal of reducing the threat of litigation — might be sufficient. For others, it might be appropriate to run a full audit to identify their current level of accessibility and the targeted standard. 

With that in mind, let’s review the basic steps of conducting an accessibility audit.

Three boxes are shown vertically stacked. The first box reads, "WCAG 2.0 or 2.1." The second box reads, "Level AA or AAA." And the third reads, "Section 508 Standards."

1. Determine the Required Standard

Typically, the first step in an audit will be to determine the required standard. For many organizations in the United States and beyond, that will be WCAG 2.1 Level AA. However, there may be additional accessibility requirements your organization needs to meet depending on the industry you’re in. 

For example, suppose your organization receives federal funding or works with federal agencies. In that case, you may also need to demonstrate conformance with Section 508 standards by completing a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template(opens in a new tab) (VPAT) as part of your audit reporting.

You’ll want to ensure the accessibility testing tool you’re using to conduct your audit is testing against the latest accessibility standards. For example, AudioEye’s accessibility testing audits your content against WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards, which are also standards enforced by the U.S. government and other governing bodies.

An accessibility symbol is in the middle, surrounded by graphics representing email, PDF, and webpages.

2. Determine Your Audit’s Scope

Many organizations focus solely on HTML pages of their website, but it’s important not to overlook digital content like emails, PDFs, videos, mobile apps, or other desktop content. 

Although the goal is always to aim for the highest degree of accessibility possible, it’s best to start by analyzing the most common user journeys through your content — like booking an appointment or adding a product to a shopping cart. Not only is this more cost-effective than a blanket approach, but it’s also more aligned with the goal of practical accessibility rather than box-checking.

For example, at AudioEye, our team of expert testers starts by testing your most-visited pages and applying fixes before moving on to custom fixes for PDFs, videos, and mobile applications. This helps ensure your top pages are accessible while you address accessibility issues on less-visited pages.

An accessibility symbol is in the middle of a venn diagram, the left side reads, "time." The right side reads, "cost."

3. Partner with an Accessibility Expert

Accessibility standards like WCAG are thorough and detailed. Some are also requirements, and others are recommendations. Without an expert who can explain the difference between the two, the time and cost of digital accessibility efforts can become exorbitantly high. 

If your organization lacks significant in-house resources for digital accessibility or WCAG, you should consider engaging an external partner with the appropriate accreditations, such as an International Association of Accessibility Professionals(opens in a new tab) (IAAP) certification. 

Take AudioEye, for example. We provide ongoing support throughout your accessibility journey. From AudioEye’s Assurance, which provides 400% more legal protection, to our expert-led accessibility training, AudioEye ensures you have the guidance and resources necessary to maximize accessibility.

A status bar is partially filled in, reading 65%. Below the status bar reads, "Automated testing can identify up to 65% of digital accessibility issues."

4. Test Your Digital Content

With the right software, automated testing can identify roughly half of common accessibility issues. For a full audit, however, you’ll also need expert-led manual testing of your content.

Consider conducting testing in a supervised setting, using your chosen standard as a guide, and reporting your findings in detail. You will also need to determine the criticality of each accessibility issue by measuring its impact on the user experience. This is when it becomes particularly important to have human testers using the most common types of assistive technology.

A list reads, "scope, definitions, methodologies, and tools & processes." A grouping of three gears is shown in the top corner.

5. Report Accessibility Issues

The most basic output of an accessibility audit might be a report listing the identified issues and the associated costs of fixing them. But given the time and resources required to conduct a thorough audit, it makes sense not to skimp on reporting. An audit report can help demonstrate an ongoing commitment to meeting accessibility standards, which could be vital in defending an accessibility lawsuit. 

Your audit report should provide detailed supporting documentation on the scope, definitions, methodologies, tools, and processes employed, as well as an explanation of how it will be used to improve accessibility.

For example, AudioEye’s reports include both high-level information for executives and detailed information on identified problems and their fixes for web developers and designers. It not only shows where your content failed to meet the chosen standard but also what practical impact this has on the user experience. Ultimately, this information helps you take more proactive steps to fix accessibility issues.

What Does an Accessibility Audit Test for?

Put simply, a web accessibility audit tests how well your digital content meets accessibility standards like WCAG or ADA requirements. The audit process looks at various parts of your digital content, including text, images, interactive content, and technology.

Accessibility Audit of Text

The majority of the web (95% according to one source(opens in a new tab)) is written language. An accessibility audit of text would test how accessible text is to individuals with disabilities. Some examples of what this audit may look for are explained below.

• Font size and readability: Ensures font is readable and can be scaled for users who need larger fonts.

• Color contrast: Determines if text has sufficient contrast against its background, making it legible for users with low vision or color blindness.

• Line spacing and paragraph structure: Evaluates the spacing between lines, paragraphs, and headings to make the text more readable and avoid overwhelming the reader. 

• Use of semantic HTML for structure: Tests that headings, lists, and other structural elements use proper HTML tags, making it easier for screen readers to navigate. 

• Plain language and readability: Assesses text for clarity and simplicity to accommodate users with cognitive disabilities or limited literacy.

Accessibility Audit of Images, Audio, and Video

Similar to text, images, audio files, and videos make up a huge portion of the web. Without accessibility features, many users are unable to interact with these elements, let alone understand them. An accessibility audit determines whether these elements are accessible by testing for:

• Alt text: Ensures all meaningful images have alt text that screen readers can read out loud, describing the image for visually impaired users. 

• Captions and transcripts: Checks that all audio and video content includes accurate captions and transcripts, enabling deaf and hard-of-hearing users to follow along. The feature is also beneficial for those with situational disabilities, like being in a noisy environment. 

• Descriptive links and media labels: Checks that links and media labels are descriptive and clear, avoiding vague terms such as ‘click here’ or ‘read more.’

• Audio descriptions: Look for audio descriptions for audio content, which provide essential context for users with sensory impairments.

Accessibility Audit of Interactive Content and Transactions

This type of audit ensures that interactive content or transactions can be used by or completed by individuals with disabilities. The audit tests:

• Keyboard navigation: This confirms that all interactive elements, including forms, menus, and buttons, can be accessed and used via keyboard alone, helping users with motor disabilities or impairments.

• Form labeling and error messages: Check that form fields include clear labels and that error messages are descriptive, helping users understand what information is required or incorrect. 

• Focus indicators and visual feedback: Ensures users can see which element is currently selected or “in focus” when navigating via keyboard commands.

• Accessible drop-downs and modals: This ensures that complex elements like drop-down menus, pop-ups, and models are accessible and can be closed or navigated easily without a mouse.

Accessibility Audit of Technology

As the name suggests, an audit of your technology determines how accessible your technology is for individuals with disabilities. The audit will test the following:

• Screen reader compatibility: Test that content works seamlessly with popular screen readers (including JAWS, NVDA, etc.) by checking the reading order and element labels.

• Responsive, mobile-friendly design: Verifies digital content adjusts well across various screen sizes, orientations, and devices, enhancing accessibility for mobile users.

• Assistive technology integration: Checks that the site or app integrates effectively with various assistive technologies beyond screen readers, such as braille displays and voice recognition software. 

• Browser and operating system compatibility: Ensures content works properly and is accessible on different browsers and operating systems. 

•  Error prevention and recovery: Tests error prevention systems (such as input constraints or error recovery options) to help users complete actions successfully.

Put simply, each of these audits help you determine whether or not your digital experience is functional, usable, inclusive, and, most importantly, accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Why is Digital Accessibility Important?

Digital accessibility is important for numerous reasons — from compliance with different accessibility laws to supporting internal programs around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). 

Additional reasons to prioritize inclusive experiences for everyone include:

Digital Accessibility is the Law

In recent years, the number of accessibility-related lawsuits has skyrocketed — and many accessibility laws point to standards like WCAG 2.2 as a means to demonstrate compliance.

Some examples of accessibility laws include:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The ADA(opens in a new tab) prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. The ADA gives millions of individuals with disabilities equal access to all public and private places, including employment, government, telecommunications, and businesses. Although the ADA does not have technical standards for web accessibility, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has regularly stated that websites qualify as “places of public accommodation.”

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Section 508 requires federal agencies in the United States (as well as state, county, or municipal authorities that receive federal funding and any contractor that wants to work with the U.S. government) to make their information and communications technology (ICT) accessible to people with disabilities.

• The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA): Under the AODA, all public and private organizations in Canada with more than 49 employees are required to provide accessible digital content.

• The European Accessibility Act (EAA): The EAA(opens in a new tab) requires all EU Member States to provide equal access to everyday digital products, including smartphones and mobile applications. Additionally, the EAA requires EU countries to follow the accessibility standards included in WCAG 2.1 Level AA to ensure individuals with disabilities can access digital content.

Enhancing accessibility across your website and mobile apps helps ensure you’re complying with legal requirements. This decreases the chances of legal ramifications that can be costly and damage your reputation.

Digital Accessibility is Good for Business

One of the biggest misconceptions about digital accessibility is that it’s some sort of edge case — a rare occurrence found on just a few webpages. The reality is, the majority of the web is inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. According to the 2024 Web Accessibility in Mind (WebAIM) report(opens in a new tab), 95.9% of homepages had detected WCAG 2.0 errors, a small improvement from 96.3% in 2023.

Prioritizing accessibility opens your digital doors to a huge market — one with a lot of spending power. It’s estimated that the disability community has over $13 trillion in annual disposable income(opens in a new tab). That number is even larger when their friends and family are included. Tapping into this market can help you increase revenue, further business growth, and expand your customer base.

Don’t Wait to Start Your Accessibility Journey

AudioEye’s Digital Accessibility Platform combines both automation and human-assisted AI technology to find and fix accessibility issues. Our AI-driven technology finds and fixes common accessibility issues that negatively impact the user experience. 

We supplement this testing with Expert Audits from accessibility experts and individuals from the disability community. The team audits your digital content for more complex accessibility issues and provides guidance on how to fix them. With this approach, you can address accessibility issues in real-time while taking proactive steps to further enhance your site’s accessibility.