In today’s digital world, accessibility is not just a feature—it’s a necessity. Millions of people, including those with disabilities, rely on websites, apps, and digital platforms for daily activities. However, if these platforms are not designed for accessibility, they can create significant barriers.
An accessibility audit helps identify and remove these barriers, ensuring a better user experience and compliance with legal standards. Regular audits make digital spaces more inclusive and user-friendly for everyone.
What is Accessibility Audits?
An Accessibility Audit is a process of evaluating a digital product—such as a website, mobile app, or software—to ensure it is usable by people with disabilities. It helps identify barriers that might prevent individuals with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments from accessing and using the product effectively.
Why is it Important?
An accessibility audit is important because it ensures that websites, apps, and digital platforms can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. Many individuals rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies to access online content. If a website is not designed with accessibility in mind, it can create barriers that prevent people from using it properly. An accessibility audit helps identify these barriers and suggests improvements, making the platform more inclusive. It also ensures compliance with legal standards, improves user experience, and even boosts SEO. Overall, making digital spaces accessible benefits not just people with disabilities but also enhances usability for everyone.
Elements of Accessibility
- Perceivability – All users, including those with disabilities, should be able to access and understand information on a website or app. Text should be clear and easy to read, with options to adjust font size and contrast. Images should have alternative text (alt text) so that screen readers can describe them to visually impaired users. Videos should have captions or transcripts for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Audio content should have text alternatives. The goal is to present information in multiple ways so that everyone can perceive it.
- Operability – A website or app should be easy to use, no matter how a person interacts with it. Users should be able to navigate using a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or voice commands. Buttons, links, and menus should be large enough to click easily and placed in logical locations. Websites should not have features that require quick responses, as some users may need extra time. Animations or flashing content should be used carefully to avoid causing discomfort, such as seizures.
- Understandability – Information and features should be simple and predictable. Websites and apps should use clear language without unnecessary jargon. Instructions should be straightforward, and error messages should clearly explain what went wrong and how to fix it. The layout should be consistent, so users do not get confused when moving from one page to another. Forms should include labels and suggestions to help users fill them out correctly.
- Robustness – Digital platforms should work well with different devices and assistive technologies, such as screen readers, speech-to-text software, and braille displays. Websites and apps should be built using proper coding standards to ensure they function correctly on various browsers, operating systems, and future technologies. Keeping technology adaptable ensures long-term accessibility.
By following these principles, digital platforms can be inclusive and user-friendly for everyone, including individuals with disabilities.
Types of Accessibility Audits in Digital Platforms
- Automated Accessibility Audit:
This audit uses special tools to scan a website or app and find common accessibility issues. It checks for things like missing image descriptions (alt text), poor color contrast, and incorrect heading structures. Automated audits are fast but cannot find all problems, especially those related to usability and user experience. - Manual Accessibility Audit:
In this type of audit, experts manually test the website or app by using a keyboard, screen reader, and other assistive tools. They check if all buttons, links, and forms work correctly and if the content is easy to understand for people with disabilities. Manual audits help find deeper issues that automated tools may miss, like confusing navigation or improper labeling. - User Accessibility Audit:
This audit involves real users with disabilities testing the website or app. They provide feedback on how easy or difficult it is to use. Since they experience accessibility challenges firsthand, their feedback is very helpful in finding real-world usability problems that automated and manual audits might not detect. - Hybrid Accessibility Audit:
A hybrid audit combines all three methods—automated, manual, and user testing. It starts with an automated check to find basic issues, then experts perform manual testing for deeper analysis, and finally, real users test the platform to give feedback. This approach provides the most complete and accurate accessibility review.
By using a mix of these audits, digital platforms can become truly accessible, making them easier to use for people with disabilities.
How to Conduct an Accessibility Audit – Simple Steps
An accessibility audit ensures that websites, mobile apps, or digital content are inclusive for people with disabilities. It helps identify barriers and ensures compliance with global accessibility standards. Here’s a simple process to conduct an audit:
- Define What Needs to be Checked: Determine which digital platform needs evaluation, such as a website, mobile app, or multimedia content. Consider the needs of users who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers or keyboard navigation. Defining the scope ensures a structured and effective audit.
- Appoint an Accessibility Auditor: Organizations can hire an accessibility auditor or train an in-house team. A trained auditor understands technical issues and user challenges, ensuring a thorough review. Regular monitoring helps maintain long-term compliance.
- Conduct Automated and Manual Testing: Use automated tools to detect common issues like missing alt text, low contrast, and incorrect headings. Manual testing is essential for checking keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and proper labeling of forms and buttons. A combination of both methods ensures a comprehensive evaluation.
- Compare Findings with Accessibility Standards and Prepare a Report: Document all identified accessibility barriers along with their impact on users. Categorize issues based on severity and suggest necessary fixes. This report guides developers and designers in making accessibility improvements.
- Fix Issues and Retest: Implement the suggested fixes and conduct another round of testing to ensure that all accessibility barriers are resolved. Regular audits are necessary to maintain compliance, especially after platform updates.
- Maintain Accessibility for the Future: Accessibility should be a continuous effort. Conduct periodic audits, train teams on best practices, and collect feedback from users with disabilities to enhance accessibility. Ongoing improvements help keep digital platforms inclusive.
Benefits of Accessibility Audits
- Better Digital Access – Accessibility audits ensure that websites and apps work smoothly with assistive technologies like screen readers, magnifiers, and voice commands. This helps people with disabilities access information and services more easily.
- Equal Opportunities – When digital platforms are accessible, people with disabilities can apply for jobs, access education, use healthcare services, and manage finances independently. This reduces barriers and promotes inclusivity.
- Improved User Experience – Clear navigation, readable text, and easy-to-use forms enhance the experience for users with disabilities. Accessibility improvements also benefit older adults and people in challenging environments.
- Legal Compliance – Businesses must follow accessibility laws such as WCAG, RPWD (India), and ADA (USA). Audits help identify and fix accessibility issues, ensuring compliance and reducing the risk of legal action.
- Improved SEO and Performance – Accessible websites are better structured, load faster, and rank higher on search engines like Google. Features like alt text, proper headings, and clear navigation improve visibility and engagement for all users.
Conclusion
Ensuring accessibility is not just about following rules—it’s about creating a digital space where everyone can navigate, interact, and engage without difficulty. An accessibility audit helps in identifying and resolving issues that might limit access for people with disabilities. However, accessibility is an ongoing effort, not a one-time fix. Regular audits, continuous improvements, and user feedback play a key role in maintaining an inclusive experience. By making digital platforms more accessible, we contribute to a more equal and user-friendly online world for all.