Free Audit: Does Your Website Meet Web Accessibility Standards?

The Importance of Website Accessibility in the Digital Era

Accessibility is the foundation of modern user experience. When your site is easy to use for everyone—including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive limitations—you open the door to more users and business opportunities.

Direct Impact on User Experience

Accessible websites are usually faster, clearer, and easier to understand. Navigation is tidier, content is more structured, and interactions are more comfortable even for non-disabled users. This isn't just about empathy; it's about effectiveness.

Business Benefits and Legal Compliance

Countries like the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and some Asian regions are starting to implement strict regulations regarding digital accessibility. Violations can lead to lawsuits.

Websites that prioritize accessibility also prove to be superior in SEO because clear content structure makes it easier for crawlers to understand context.

What is the WCAG Standard and Why Is It Important?

WCAG is an international guideline that establishes how to make websites accessible to all users.

POUR Principles in WCAG

Perceivable Users must be able to see or hear content.
Operable Sites must be navigable with a keyboard.
Understandable Text and instructions must be easy to comprehend.
Robust Websites must be compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Compliance Levels: A, AA, AAA

A: Minimum compliance level.
AA: Ideal standard widely adopted.
AAA: Highest compliance level, usually for special services or institutions.

How to Conduct a Free Website Audit

Here's how to evaluate your site at no cost.

Using Automated Accessibility Checkers

Some free tools you can use:

Google Lighthouse
WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
AXE DevTools

These tools can detect dozens of issues such as:

Missing alt text on images.
Colors without adequate contrast.
Non-sequential heading structure.
Buttons without clear labels.

Manual Evaluation That Must Be Done

Automated checkers can't detect everything. Manually test the following:

Full navigation using keyboard (without mouse).
Using screen readers like NVDA or VoiceOver.
Focus order when pressing Tab key.
Clarity and flow of heading structure.

Identifying Visual, Keyboard, and Screen Reader Issues

If a button can't be focused with a keyboard, that's a big problem. If text isn't readable on a bright background, that's a design failure. If a screen reader doesn't understand the function of a button or link, your site isn't accessible.

Signs Your Website Is Not Accessible

Poor Contrast

Light gray text on a white background? Users with visual impairments won't be able to read it.

Messy Heading Structure

If you jump from H1 directly to H4, screen reader users will be confused understanding content hierarchy.

Broken Keyboard Navigation

If users can't navigate from one interactive element to another using the Tab key, this is a serious accessibility violation.

Website Accessibility Checklist (Practical & Simple)

| Item | Status | | :----------------------------------- | :-----: | | All images have alt text | ✔️ / ❌ | | Color contrast meets WCAG 2.1 | ✔️ / ❌ | | 100% keyboard-friendly navigation | ✔️ / ❌ | | Sequential headings (H1 → H2 → H3) | ✔️ / ❌ | | All forms have clear labels | ✔️ / ❌ | | Videos have subtitles or transcripts | ✔️ / ❌ |

Free Tools for Accessibility Audits

Lighthouse

Quick analysis integrated directly into Chrome DevTools. Provides scores and basic reports.

WAVE

Displays visual overlay to see accessibility errors directly on your web page.

AXE DevTools

Browser extension that detects technical issues more deeply and provides improvement suggestions.

How to Fix Your Audit Results

Quick Fixes (Low-Hanging Fruit)

Add descriptive alt text to all images.
Fix color contrast ratio between text and background.
Tidy up heading order to be logical.
Add labels connected to each form input.

Complex Fixes That Need Developers

Total refactor of navigation components to be keyboard-friendly.
Fix or implement ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) structure.
Redesign UI/UX to be more intuitive and accessible.

FAQ: Free Audit & Web Accessibility Standards

Are accessibility audits always paid? No. Many free tools can provide an excellent initial overview.
Are automated audit results sufficient? Not yet. You still need manual evaluation to ensure the actual user experience.
Which WCAG level should I follow? Target at least level AA for solid compliance.
How long does accessibility improvement take? Depends on the level of damage and site complexity. Could be from a few hours to several months.
Does accessibility affect SEO? Yes, significantly. Good structure and better user experience are rewarded by search engines.
Do small websites also need to be accessible? Yes. All websites, large or small, must meet basic standards to serve all users.

Conclusion: Accessibility is an Investment

"Free Audit: Does Your Website Meet Web Accessibility Standards?" is not just a question—it's a call to improve the quality, reach, and positive impact of your website. Accessibility improves user experience, SEO performance, and legal compliance. The sooner you start, the better your website's position in the future.

External references:

Web Accessibility Initiative – WCAG Guidelines