Accessibility Audits

The main components of an accessibility audit focus on evaluating how accessible a digital product is to all users, including those with disabilities. Here’s a breakdown of these components:

Compliance review: This step includes to check the product against established accessibility standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Designers review if the product meets the required success criteria at various levels (A, AA, or AAA).

User interface and navigation assessment: This part of the audit assesses how easy it is to navigate the product and access its content. It checks for logical flow, clear labeling and the presence of accessible controls.

Color and contrast analysis: Auditors examine the visual presentation, and ensure that text contrasts sufficiently against background colors to aid users with visual impairments.

Content evaluation: This includes to review the clarity and readability of the content, check for the use of simple language and make sure that all media (like images and videos) have text alternatives.

Assistive technology compatibility: The audit tests compatibility with various assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard-only navigation and speech recognition software to ensure the product is something that everyone can use.

Feedback and user testing: To collect feedback from users with disabilities and involve them in testing can provide practical insights into the accessibility of the product.

Take our Accessibility: How to Design for All course. 

Accessibility audits are one critical way to make sure that digital products are usable for everyone—including people with disabilities. Ideally, multiple parties with distinct skills should conduct these audits:

Accessibility specialists: These are professionals who have in-depth knowledge of accessibility standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). They understand the technical requirements and how to implement them.

Designers and developers: The team that built the product should be involved to understand accessibility issues and make necessary adjustments. Their involvement ensures that the technical and creative aspects of the product actually meet accessibility standards.

Users with disabilities: Include actual users with various disabilities in the audit process. It’s essential. They can provide firsthand feedback on the usability of the product from their unique perspectives.

Third-party consultants: Sometimes, it helps to hire external consultants who specialize in accessibility. They can offer an unbiased review of the product and suggest improvements based on best practices and industry standards. To get a diverse group involved makes for a thorough audit, and leads to a more accessible product.

This collaborative approach doesn't just enhance product usability; it also promotes inclusivity throughout the design and development process.

Understand more about accessibility in our piece, Understand the Social Needs for Accessibility in UX Design. 

You should conduct accessibility audits regularly—to make sure your digital products remain accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Here's a general guideline for the frequency:

At major milestones: Run an audit whenever you release a new version of a product or after significant updates. These are critical times to check that new features or changes meet accessibility standards.

Annually: Even if your product has minor updates, a yearly audit helps catch any issues that might have been missed or introduced over time. This regular check maintains compliance with evolving accessibility standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

After you receive user feedback: If users report accessibility issues, it’s crucial to do an audit as soon as possible. This fixes the issues, indeed, but it also demonstrates your commitment to accessibility.

When regulations change: If legal requirements around accessibility change, run an audit to ensure your product complies with the new regulations. This can keep legal issues from cropping up and enhance user experience.

Regular audits are part of a proactive approach to accessibility—and they ensure that all users can efficiently use your products.

Understand more aspects of accessibility in our Topic Definition about it. 

Take our Accessibility: How to Design for All course. 

During an accessibility audit, professionals use a variety of tools to make sure digital products meet the needs of all users—including those with disabilities. Here are some key tools commonly employed:

Screen readers: Tools like JAWS, NVDA or VoiceOver help auditors understand how people who are blind or have low vision interact with a product. Auditors use these to check whether all elements on the page are actually accessible.

Color contrast analyzers: These tools measure the contrast between text and background colors. High contrast is essential for users with visual impairments. WebAIM’s Contrast Checker is a popular choice.

Accessibility inspection toolbars: Browser extensions such as the Axe Accessibility Toolbar or WAVE provide a quick way to identify common accessibility issues within web pages.

Keyboard accessibility tests: Professionals use their keyboard (no mouse) to navigate the product. This testing ensures that users who can't use a mouse can access all features.

Automated testing tools: Programs like Axe or Lighthouse automate the detection of potential accessibility issues across web pages—providing a broad overview of areas that might need closer examination.

These tools help professionals identify and fix accessibility barriers—making digital environments usable for everyone.Watch as CEO of Experience Dynamics, Frank Spillers explains 10 principles to consider for web accessibility and mobile design:

Understand more aspects of accessibility in our Topic Definition about it. 

Accessibility audits typically uncover several common issues that can get in the way of the usability of digital products for users with disabilities. Here are some of the most frequent problems these audits identify:

Insufficient text contrast: Auditors often find that the contrast between text and its background is too low, which makes it hard for people with visual impairments to read.

Missing alt text for images: Images without alternative text (alt text) are a common issue. Alt text is crucial as it describes images to users who rely on screen readers.

Inaccessible navigation: Many audits reveal that websites or apps have navigation that's hard to use or understand—especially for users who navigate exclusively via keyboard or screen readers.

Lack of keyboard accessibility: Some interactive elements aren't operable with a keyboard, which can exclude users who don't use a mouse.

Poor form labeling: Forms with labels that are unclear or missing entirely are often flagged. Proper labeling is essential for users to understand what information belongs in each form field.

Media without captions or transcripts: Audits frequently uncover videos and audio tracks that lack captions or transcripts—making them inaccessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

To spot these issues lets designers make the necessary changes to improve accessibility and ensure their products serve all users effectively.

Read our piece, UI Color Palette 2024: Best Practices, Tips, and Tricks for Designers. 

Watch as Frank Spillers explains how accessibility impacts usability and SEO: 

Yes, accessibility requirements can vary significantly by country. Different nations have their own laws and regulations that govern accessibility—especially for digital products and services. For example:

United States: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandate accessibility for public and government digital services. These laws ensure that websites are accessible to people with disabilities.

European Union: The European Accessibility Act requires that key digital products and services, like e-commerce websites and mobile apps, be accessible. Member states have specific guidelines to stay in line with these broader EU regulations.

Canada: The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets standards for digital accessibility across Ontario, which influences national standards.

United Kingdom: The Equality Act 2010 requires that all UK services, including digital, be accessible, which specific guidelines like the UK Government’s accessibility requirements enforce.

It’s crucial to understand and comply with the specific accessibility laws of each country for businesses that operate internationally—to ensure inclusivity and legal compliance.

Understand more aspects of accessibility in our Topic Definition about it. 

Take our Accessibility: How to Design for All course. 

To fail to meet accessibility standards can lead to several penalties, depending on the country and specific regulations. Here are some common consequences businesses might face:

Legal action: Individuals or groups may sue organizations for not providing accessible digital products. In countries like the United States, these lawsuits can be based on violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Such legal actions can result in costly settlements or court-ordered mandates to make websites accessible.

Fines: Governments may impose fines on organizations that fail to comply with accessibility laws. For example, in the European Union, under the European Accessibility Act, fines can be significant, depending on the extent of the non-compliance and the size of the company.

Reputational damage: Beyond legal or financial penalties, to fail to ensure accessibility can harm a company's reputation. Customers and advocacy groups may view the organization as indifferent to the needs of people with disabilities—a problem that can lead to negative publicity and loss of customer trust. It’s good to take proactive steps to comply with accessibility standards, not just to avoid these penalties but also to enhance user experience and broaden customer reach.

Understand more about accessibility and the need to design with accessibility in mind from our video:

Read our piece, Accessibility: Usability for all. 

The duration of a typical accessibility audit depends on several factors—including the complexity of the website or application and the depth of the audit required. Generally, an accessibility audit can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. For a small website with limited features, an audit might be completed in a week or less. For larger, more complex websites or applications with many pages and features, however, the audit process can extend up to several weeks. This timeline lets auditors thoroughly review the site against accessibility standards, test with different assistive technologies and compile detailed reports with recommendations for improvements.

Understand more about accessibility and the need to design with accessibility in mind from our video:

Understand more about accessibility in our piece, Understand the Social Needs for Accessibility in UX Design. 

Yes, it's entirely possible to do that. Many of the tools and processes for use in accessibility audits are digital—allowing auditors to evaluate websites and applications from anywhere. Auditors use various software tools to check compliance with accessibility standards—such as screen readers, color contrast analyzers and automated testing programs. What's more, to communicate with team members and stakeholders can easily happen via email, video calls and other online collaboration platforms. This flexibility means that organizations can engage accessibility experts from around the world, and ensure they get the best insights and recommendations to improve their digital products.

Read our piece, Accessibility: Usability for all. 

Watch as Frank Spillers explains another aspect to watch for with design for accessibility: designer’s bias: 

The essential accessibility standards and guidelines primarily include the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) developed. WCAG is the most widely recognized set of guidelines, and it serves as the basis for many international and national laws on accessibility. It outlines how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. It covers a range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning and neurological disabilities.

WCAG guidelines are organized under four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. These guidelines have three levels of compliance: A (the minimum level), AA (the standard level for most websites) and AAA (the highest level). To follow WCAG helps ensure that digital content is accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities.

Understand more about accessibility and the need to design with accessibility in mind from our video: 

During an accessibility audit, auditors evaluate ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles to ensure that web content and applications are more accessible to people with disabilities. ARIA roles help by providing extra context to assistive technologies—like screen readers—about what each element does or represents on a webpage.

Auditors typically assess ARIA roles when they:

Identify ARIA roles: Auditors start by checking that HTML elements on a webpage include appropriate ARIA roles. For example, roles like “button”, “dialog”, “navigation” and “article” tell assistive technology how to interact with or what to expect from these elements.

Test ARIA implementations: After auditors identify ARIA roles, they use screen readers and other assistive technologies to test if these roles are implemented correctly. They ensure that elements with ARIA roles are functioning as intended, providing the correct feedback to users.

Validate ARIA properties and states: Auditors also check for proper use of ARIA properties and states which provide dynamic information about elements, such as whether a dropdown is expanded or a checkbox is selected.

Review consistency: Finally, auditors ensure consistency across the site, and verify that similar elements use the same ARIA roles and attributes, which helps to create a predictable user experience.

By carefully evaluating ARIA roles, auditors can significantly enhance the usability of web content for users who rely on assistive technologies. They can make sure that web functions are accessible to everyone.

Watch as Frank Spillers explains additional dimensions of accessibility to consider in design:

In an accessibility audit, professionals prioritize findings from the impact each issue has on the accessibility of the product and the ease of implementing fixes. Here’s how they typically approach this prioritization:

Severity of impact: Issues that severely affect the ability of users, particularly those with disabilities, to use the product are given the highest priority. For instance, if a major navigational component isn't accessible via keyboard, it could prevent users who rely on keyboard-only navigation from using the site effectively.

Frequency of occurrence: If an accessibility issue occurs frequently across a website or application, it receives higher prioritization. That's because fixing such widespread problems can improve the experience for a larger number of users.

Ease of resolution: Issues that are easier to fix might get higher prioritization because quick wins can significantly improve accessibility without requiring extensive resources or time.

Legal compliance: Professionals also consider the legal requirements associated with accessibility. Issues that might lead to non-compliance with laws like the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) receive prioritization to mitigate legal risks.

From categorizing issues based on these criteria, professionals can create an effective plan to address the most critical problems first—enhancing overall accessibility in a strategic way.

Understand more aspects of accessibility in our Topic Definition about it. 

Take our Accessibility: How to Design for All course. 

Accessibility audits for mobile applications differ from those for websites primarily in the platforms, tools and guidelines they focus on. These audits generally vary in:

Platform-specific guidelines: Mobile audits stick to platform-specific guidelines such as Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines and Google’s Android Accessibility Guidelines, in addition to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) that often receive broader application to web content. These guidelines address the unique features and interactions of mobile devices.

Interaction differences: Mobile devices use touch interactions, such as swiping and tapping, which are different from the mouse clicks and keyboard navigation typically used on websites. Auditors check for accessibility in these touch-based interactions to make sure they are usable for everyone, including those with motor disabilities.

Tool utilization: Tools used in mobile audits can include both software and physical devices. Auditors often use the actual smartphones and tablets to test accessibility features like screen readers (VoiceOver on iOS, TalkBack on Android) and ensure these features work correctly across different devices and screen sizes.

Testing environments: Unlike web applications, testing mobile apps often requires setting up different hardware configurations to simulate various operating systems, screen resolutions and user settings.

These differences highlight the need for a tailored approach in mobile accessibility audits to address the specific challenges and requirements of mobile platforms and user interactions.

Watch as Frank Spillers explains principles to consider for web accessibility and mobile design:

Vigo, M., Brown, J., & Conway, V. (2013). Benchmarking web accessibility evaluation tools: measuring the harm of sole reliance on automated tests. In Proceedings of the 10th International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (p. 1).   

This conference paper evaluates the effectiveness of various automated web accessibility evaluation tools and emphasizes the limitations of relying just on such tools for accessibility audits. It underscores how important it is to combine automated testing with manual evaluation by accessibility experts.