Your Simple Guide to Digital Accessibility Audits

If you run a business—whether it’s a plumbing company, local restaurant, retail store, or small agency—this guide is for you. You don’t need to know code or hire a big tech team to start making your website more accessible. All it takes is knowing what to check, using the right tools, and taking a few simple steps to get started. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to run a basic digital accessibility audit. You just need to know what to check, what tools to use, and how to take the first steps.

We’ll show you:

• What an accessibility audit actually is
• What to check for (with simple tools)
• How to test your site with real people
• What to fix first—and why it matters 

Accessibility That Works for Real People

Accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have or a legal checkbox—it’s part of good customer service. If someone can’t use your site, they may leave and never come back. That’s why accessibility audits are becoming a regular part of website maintenance.

“Some people think having accessible websites is like having a swimming pool. Nice to have, but too expensive and too much upkeep,” says John Rochford, director of the INDEX program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “An accessible website is easier to use for everyone, which is always good for business.”

What a 2025 Accessibility Audit Looks Like

Think of an accessibility audit like a health check for your website. You’re making sure anyone—no matter their ability—can use your site without hitting roadblocks.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Kickoff and Discovery
   Pick a few pages to focus on—start with your homepage, contact page, and any pages with forms or transactions. Identify who built the site, how it was built (e.g. WordPress, custom code), and what needs reviewing.
2. Automated Scans
   Run free tools like WAVE, Axe DevTools, Userway, or Google Lighthouse to catch common issues—missing alt text, poor contrast, or broken landmarks.

Tool	What It Does	Best For
WAVE	Highlights accessibility issues directly in your browser.	Beginners doing quick checks.
Axe DevTools	Chrome extension that provides detailed error reporting.	Developers needing code-level insight.
Google Lighthouse	Audits performance, SEO, and accessibility.	Broad overview and scoring.
Siteimprove	Cloud-based platform for ongoing monitoring.	Larger teams managing many pages.
Pa11y	Command-line tool for automating tests.	Developers automating testing workflows.
UserWay	Widget and AI-based accessibility scanning tools.	SMBs or teams wanting quick ADA fixes.

Use at least two tools to catch a broader range of issues. But remember—automated tools are a starting point. You’ll need to go further.

3. Manual Checks
   Use only your keyboard to navigate your site. Can you get to every link and button? Do forms have clear labels? Is the text easy to read? Are images missing alt text?
4. Test with Assistive Technology
   Try using a screen reader like NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (Mac). Zoom in 200% and see if your layout still works. These small tests simulate how users with disabilities experience your site.
5. Talk to Real Users
   Ask people who use assistive tech to try your site and tell you what works—and what doesn’t.

Method	What It Is	When to Use It
1-on-1 Usability Testing	Ask a user to complete tasks while narrating their experience.	Great for deep, detailed insights.
Focus Group Discussions	Small-group conversations to observe shared challenges.	Useful for comparing experiences across users.
Surveys or Feedback Forms	Collect quantitative or open-ended input at scale.	Best for gathering broad opinions.
Live Co-Testing	Collaborate in real time with users using assistive tech.	Ideal for early design and prototypes.

Even a few honest conversations can reveal problems that tools won’t catch.

6. Document What You Find
   List the problems you spot. Include screenshots, describe where it happens, and rate how serious it is. Focus on anything that stops someone from completing a task.
7. Create a Fix-It Plan
   Tackle the major issues first: forms that can’t be submitted, buttons without labels, or hard-to-read text. Schedule other improvements as part of your next website update.

 

Why Inclusive Design Helps Everyone

When your site works for more people, it works better for everyone. Clear labels, good contrast, mobile-friendly layouts, and intuitive design help all users—not just people with disabilities.

“An accessible site isn’t just usable for people with disabilities. It’s more usable, period,” says Shell Little, a senior accessibility specialist and advocate for neurodivergent-inclusive UX.

Accessible sites don’t just feel better to use—they also perform better. Teams that prioritize inclusive design often see:

• Higher customer satisfaction
• Fewer support tickets
• Better collaboration between design and development
• Products that work across more devices and user types 

And for businesses, it’s a competitive edge: more customers are actively seeking brands that demonstrate inclusive values.

 

What Happens When Accessibility Gets Ignored

When a user runs into a barrier—like a broken form, low-contrast text, or a link a screen reader can’t interpret—they’re likely to leave. And they might not return.

Common consequences of poor accessibility include:

• Lost sales and conversions
• Increased customer complaints
• Missed opportunities in regulated industries (like healthcare, government, education)
• Expensive retrofits when legal or business pressures force action later 

Accessibility isn’t just a technical concern—it’s a business risk when overlooked.

Easy Ways to Get Started (and Tools That Can Help)

You don’t need a huge budget or expert team to begin making improvements. Start small, use the right tools, and get feedback from real users.

Try this quick-start checklist:

• Run a free audit using tools like WAVE or Axe
• Test your site with just a keyboard (no mouse)
• Ask a user with a disability for honest feedback
• Fix major blockers: missing labels, poor contrast, broken forms
• Train your team on accessibility basics
• Publish an accessibility statement on your site
  

Helpful tools include:

• AI-based checkers to catch missing alt text and broken labels
• CI/CD integrations to prevent issues before deployment
• Voice testing to ensure compatibility with smart assistants 

Just remember: tools alone won’t catch everything. Real-world feedback is your most valuable resource.

“We’re not asking for special treatment,” says disability advocate Haben Girma. “We’re asking for equal access. That benefits all of us.“

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a basic accessibility audit take?
You can do an initial review in a few hours using free tools and keyboard testing. A full audit with user testing may take a few days.

Do I need to hire a professional to run an audit?
Not necessarily. Many small businesses start with free tools and basic testing. But for complex sites, a professional can help identify deeper issues and provide a fix plan.

What are the most common accessibility problems?
Missing alt text, poor contrast, lack of keyboard support, unlabeled buttons, and confusing forms.

What’s the easiest thing I can fix right now?
Add alt text to images, increase text contrast, and check if your site works with just a keyboard.

Will improving accessibility help with SEO?
Yes! Clear structure, better labels, and mobile-friendly design improve your site for search engines and users alike.

 

Need Help Getting Started?

If you want to make your website more accessible but aren’t sure where to begin, Techna Digital Marketing can help. We offer hands-on audits and web development services to help you achieve and maintain ADA compliance—without the need for in-house training. 

Whether you run a shop, clinic, service business, or nonprofit—we’ll guide you through the process, step by step. Contact us today and let’s make your site work better for everyone.