What if the digital product you’ve built and invested time into is unknowingly excluding millions of potential users? In our rush to create sleek, feature-rich websites and apps, we may be building barriers instead of bridges? We often tend to overlook digital accessibility but it has a deep impact.
You may face a wake-up call when it comes to digital accessibility and conducting its audit. Perhaps we should realize that creating truly inclusive digital products isn’t just a nice-to-have feature but it’s essential.
In this article, we’ll explore how to conduct effective accessibility audits for your digital products and what are some of the common accessibility issues that you can take care of.
Why Accessibility Matters in the Digital Age
Digital products have become an integral part of our daily lives in this interconnected world. From websites and mobile apps to online services and digital documents, these products have shaped how we work, learn, and interact. However, not everyone experiences these digital tools in the same way. For millions of people with special abilities, poorly designed digital products can create significant barriers to access and participation.
Web accessibility isn’t just about compliance with laws and regulations but it’s about creating a more inclusive digital world. When we make our products accessible, we expand our audience and potential customer base, improve user experience for everyone, not just those with special abilities, and demonstrate social responsibility and ethical business practices. Moreover, it helps reduce legal risks associated with discrimination and enhances our brand reputation and customer loyalty.
Understanding Web Accessibility Standards
Before we dive into the audit process, it’s crucial to understand the standards that guide web accessibility. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the most widely recognized set of recommendations for making web content more accessible. Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), these guidelines are organized into four main principles:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust.
Each principle is broken down into guidelines and success criteria, with three levels of conformance: A (lowest), AA, and AAA (highest).
Most organizations aim for AA compliance as a baseline. These guidelines ensure that information and user interface components are presentable to users in ways they can perceive, that navigation is operable, that information and operation of the user interface are understandable, and that content can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
Preparing for Your Accessibility Audit
Before you begin your audit, it’s essential to lay the groundwork for success. Start by defining your scope – determine which parts of your digital product you’ll be auditing. Will you focus on a single website, or include mobile apps and other digital assets? Next, set your goals. Decide what level of WCAG compliance you’re aiming for (A, AA, or AAA).
Assembling your team is crucial. Ideally, your audit team should include people with diverse skills, including developers, designers, content creators, and if possible, individuals with special ability for proper feedback. Their varied perspectives will ensure a more comprehensive audit.
Choose your tools carefully. You’ll need a mix of automated and manual testing tools to conduct a thorough audit. Finally, create a realistic timeline for conducting the audit and implementing necessary changes. Remember, accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
Key Components of an Effective Accessibility Audit
A complete accessibility audit typically includes several components:
1. Automated Testing
Automated tools can quickly scan your digital product for common accessibility issues. While they can’t catch everything, they’re a great starting point and can save a lot of time.
Popular automated testing tools include:
- WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
- aXe
- Lighthouse
- Siteimprove Accessibility Checker
2. Manual Testing
Manual testing involves human testers going through your digital product to identify issues that automated tools might miss. This includes:
- Keyboard navigation testing
- Screen reader testing
- Color contrast checking
- Form and functionality testing
3. User Testing
Involving real users with special ability in your testing process can provide invaluable insights. They can identify issues that even experienced testers might overlook and provide feedback on the overall user experience.
4. Content Review
A thorough review of your content is crucial. This includes checking for:
- Clear and simple language
- Proper heading structure
- Descriptive link text
- Alternative text for images
- Captions and transcripts for multimedia content
5. Code Review
A detailed examination of your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can reveal accessibility issues at the code level. This might include:
- Proper use of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes
- Semantic HTML structure
- Keyboard event handling
Common Accessibility Issues to Watch For
During your audit, you’re likely to encounter several common accessibility problems. These often includes
Low color contrast
| Good Examples | Bad Examples |
| Black on Green | Yellow on Green |
| White on Orange | Purple on Black |
| Yellow on Black | White on Yellow |
Missing alternative text for images
Keyboard navigation issues
Lack of form labels
Inaccessible PDF documents when they are made of images and OCR cannot correctly identify texts.
Pay attention to the structure of your content as well. Improper heading structure can make it difficult for screen reader users to navigate your site. Non-descriptive link text (like “click here”) doesn’t provide context for users relying on screen readers. The lack of skip navigation options can make it tedious for keyboard users to access main content.
Dynamic content can also pose challenges. Ensure that AJAX updates and other dynamic elements are accessible to all users, including those using assistive technologies.
Beyond the Audit: Maintaining Accessibility
To ensure long-term accessibility, it’s important to incorporate accessibility features into your regular development process. Train your team on accessibility best practices and make it a part of your regular workflow.
Perform regular check-ups by scheduling periodic mini-audits to catch new issues early. Stay updated on standards by keeping a look at changes of accessibility guidelines and laws. Develop a culture of inclusivity by encouraging everyone in your organization to consider accessibility in their work.
Gathering ongoing feedback is also essential. Create channels for users to report accessibility issues they encounter. This continuous feedback loop will help you maintain and improve accessibility over time.
Investing in accessibility is helpful to reach new audiences and it’s also good for business. By making your digital products accessible, you open up your business to millions of potential customers with special abilities. Many accessibility features, like clear navigation and well-structured content, benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.
There are SEO benefits as well. Many accessibility best practices align with SEO best practices, potentially improving your search engine rankings. Adopting accessibility standards can help you avoid costly lawsuits and legal issues. Perhaps most importantly, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity can significantly improve your brand image and customer retention.
As we move forward in new technologies transforming how people live, work, and communicate, Let’s commit to making that world accessible to everyone. After all, when we design for accessibility, we’re not just complying with guidelines or avoiding legal issues but we’re creating better experiences for all users, expanding our reach, and building a more inclusive digital landscape.