A web accessibility audit is a structured evaluation of a website to identify barriers that prevent people with disabilities from using it effectively. Audits assess how a site works for keyboard users, screen reader users, and others who rely on assistive technologies. The goal is to understand real user impact and identify what should be fixed first.

Web accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can access information, services, and opportunities online. Many websites unintentionally exclude users through design and development choices. Improving accessibility often leads to clearer navigation, better usability, and more meaningful engagement for everyone.

In many cases, yes. In the United States, websites may be considered places of public accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Courts and regulatory guidance increasingly reference WCAG as the expected standard. An accessibility audit can help organizations understand risk and demonstrate good-faith effort.

Audits are grounded in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, typically WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 at Level AA. These guidelines are widely used internationally and are the most commonly referenced standard in legal and policy contexts.

Automated tools are useful as a starting point, but they are limited. Industry research consistently shows that automated tools typically catch only about 20 to 30 percent of WCAG accessibility issues. Most real barriers require manual testing and human judgment.

Automated tools cannot reliably assess keyboard-only navigation, screen reader flow, interactive behavior, content clarity, or whether instructions and labels make sense in context. These issues often have the greatest impact on real users.

No. Accessible design does not mean boring or restrictive design. It means intentional design that works for more people. Many accessibility improvements strengthen visual hierarchy, clarity, and usability without compromising aesthetics.

Accessibility audits are especially useful for nonprofits, mission-driven organizations, small teams without in-house expertise, and organizations preparing for redesigns or new content launches. They are also valuable for teams that want clear, actionable guidance without a full compliance engagement.

Each audit includes a scoped summary, a prioritized list of issues, descriptions of user impact, references to WCAG success criteria, screenshots or page references, and platform-agnostic remediation guidance written for both technical and non-technical teams.

Optional remediation support is available. This can include clarification, follow-up questions, or guidance during implementation, depending on your needs and scope.