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Ensuring that online platforms are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities, is a moral obligation and a legal requirement in many regions. This is where the concept of a website accessibility audit comes into play.
Join seobase as we explore the importance of website accessibility audits, how to conduct one effectively, and the benefits it brings to your online presence.
A website accessibility audit is a comprehensive assessment of a website's design, content, and functionality to identify potential barriers that may hinder individuals with disabilities from accessing and using the site effectively.
The primary goal of an accessibility audit is to evaluate whether a website complies with accessibility standards and guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG.), and to pinpoint areas where improvements are needed to make the site more inclusive and usable for all users, including those with disabilities.
Read: Accessible Websites And How They Impact SEO
Let's explore the vital reasons why conducting a website accessibility audit is paramount:
One of the primary reasons for conducting a website accessibility audit is to ensure compliance with various laws and regulations, such as:
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States
the European Union Web Accessibility Directive
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in legal consequences, including lawsuits and fines.
By performing a website accessibility audit, you enhance the user experience for a broader audience. Accessibility improvements can benefit not only those with disabilities but also older individuals and individuals with temporary impairments, ultimately increasing your website's usability and reach.
Search engines like Google prioritize user-friendly websites that provide a seamless experience for all users, including those with disabilities. By enhancing your website's accessibility, you improve its chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), consequently driving more organic traffic to your site.
Committing to accessibility helps you avoid legal issues and creates a positive brand image. It shows that your organization is inclusive and values diversity, which can attract a more loyal customer base and boost your reputation.
Website accessibility audit typically evaluates a website's compliance with recognized accessibility standards and guidelines. The most critical accessibility standards and guidelines for website accessibility audit include:
WCAG, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), is the most widely recognized and adopted set of guidelines for web accessibility.
It is organized into four fundamental principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR), with specific success criteria for each principle.
WCAG provides different levels of conformance, including Level A (the lowest), Level AA (mid-level), and Level AAA (the highest), allowing organizations to choose the level of accessibility they want to achieve.
The ADA is a U.S. law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and includes provisions related to web accessibility.
While the ADA does not specify technical standards, it references WCAG as a recognized set of guidelines for web accessibility.
Section 508 is a U.S. law requiring federal agencies to ensure their electronic and information technology is accessible to individuals with disabilities.
It references specific technical standards, including WCAG 2.0, as the benchmark for accessibility compliance.
The EU Web Accessibility Directive mandates that public sector websites and mobile applications within the European Union must comply with specific accessibility standards.
ARIA is a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to enhance their accessibility for users of assistive technologies.
It complements WCAG by providing additional ways to make dynamic web content and web applications more accessible.
When conducting a website accessibility audit, refer to these standards and guidelines to assess compliance.
Read: Benefits Of SEO Audit For Website Health
Now that we understand the significance of website accessibility audits let's delve into the steps involved in conducting one effectively.
Before diving into the website accessibility audit, defining your goals and objectives is essential. What do you hope to achieve through this audit? Identify areas of concern, such as navigation, forms, images, and multimedia content, that you want to assess for accessibility compliance.
Familiarize yourself with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a globally recognized set of guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to ensure web content is accessible to all. The WCAG provides a framework for making web content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
Select the right tools for your website accessibility audit. Several automated testing tools can help identify common accessibility issues quickly. Additionally, manual testing by your team is essential for identifying nuanced issues that automated tools may miss.
Compile a comprehensive list of your website's web pages, documents, images, and multimedia content. This will serve as the foundation for your website accessibility audit and help you identify where accessibility improvements are needed.
Read: How To Conduct A Content Audit Step-By-Step
Use automated accessibility testing tools to scan your website for common issues, including missing alt text, improper use of headings, and keyboard navigation problems. These tools provide a quick overview of potential accessibility violations.
While automated testing is valuable, manual testing is equally important. Your team should evaluate the website's accessibility by navigating it using keyboard-only controls, screen readers, and other assistive technologies. Pay attention to factors like:
keyboard focus;
navigation order;
the readability of content.
Create a detailed report documenting all accessibility issues identified during the website accessibility audit. Include information on the specific web pages or elements where problems were found, the issues' severity, and remediation recommendations.
Prioritize the identified accessibility issues based on their severity and impact on users. Start by addressing critical issues affecting the user experience, and gradually work through the list.
After making the necessary accessibility improvements, conduct another round of testing to ensure the issues have been resolved successfully. Engage individuals with disabilities for user testing to gather valuable feedback on the improved accessibility of your website.
Read: 7 Actionable Steps After The SEO Website Audit
As we stated before, conducting a website accessibility audit involves a combination of automated and manual testing. There are several tools available to assist in this process.
Here's a list of both types of tools commonly used for website accessibility audits:
WAVE is a widely used online accessibility testing tool developed by WebAIM. It is designed to help you identify and address accessibility issues on your website during your website accessibility audit.
WAVE is user-friendly and doesn't require installation. You can access it directly from your web browser, making it a convenient tool for quick accessibility checks.
Features:
Provides a visual representation of your web page with icons and indicators highlighting potential accessibility problems.
Offers detailed information about detected issues, including the type of issue, its location, and a description of the problem.
Suggests possible solutions and recommendations for improving accessibility.
Allows users to test single web pages or entire websites by simply entering the URL.
axe is an open-source accessibility testing engine developed by Deque Systems. It can be integrated into various development environments and browsers for website accessibility audit.
Developers and testers can use axe in their daily workflow to catch accessibility issues early in the development process.
Features:
Provides detailed accessibility reports with information on issues, their severity, and recommendations for remediation.
Supports integration with popular development tools, such as Chrome DevTools and Visual Studio Code.
Offers automated testing for WCAG compliance, including ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) support.
Supports command-line usage for integration into continuous integration (CI) pipelines.
Pa11y is an open-source accessibility testing tool designed to help developers and testers identify and address web accessibility issues during their website accessibility audit.
Pa11y can be used for batch testing of web pages and integrated into build processes for ongoing accessibility checks.
Features:
Offers a command-line interface for running automated accessibility tests.
Generates detailed accessibility reports with clear explanations of issues.
Supports integration into continuous integration (CI) pipelines for automated testing.
Allows customization and scripting for specific accessibility checks.
Read: 11 Web Accessibility Testing Tools For SEO To Know About
The website accessibility audit is a regulatory requirement and a pathway to creating a more inclusive and user-friendly web environment for everyone.
By following the steps outlined in this guide and prioritizing accessibility in your digital strategy, you can ensure that your website is accessible to individuals with disabilities, enhance your brand's reputation, and potentially boost your online presence.
Remember, accessibility is an ongoing commitment that requires continuous monitoring and improvement to create a more inclusive digital world.
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