What to Expect During a Website Accessibility Audit
If you’re considering an accessibility audit for your website, you might be wondering, “What actually happens during an audit?” Great question — and one we get all the time.
Here’s the truth: an accessibility audit isn’t scary, and it’s not about pointing out everything you’ve ever done “wrong.” It’s simply a clear, supportive look at how your website performs for people with differing abilities, paired with practical steps to help you improve things over time.
Whether you manage your website entirely on your own or have a small team helping with content, this guide walks you through exactly what to expect.
What Is a Website Accessibility Audit?
A website accessibility audit is like a wellness check for your website — focused specifically on how easy it is for people with disabilities to read, navigate, and use your content. Instead of guessing what needs to be improved, an audit gives you a clear, prioritized plan strongly based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Automated tools can catch about 30% of issues, but the majority are found through manual testing, using assistive technology, and real human review — all of which are included in a professional audit.
The Step-by-Step Process
1. Scope Discovery
Before anything begins, we meet to talk through your needs.
Small business websites vary widely, so this is where we determine:
Whether you want just the audit, and your team will handle remediations
orWhether you need a full audit + professional remediation services, where we fix the issues for you
This step keeps your project aligned with your goals, your comfort level, and your budget.
We’ll also identify the most important pages and user journeys on your website (homepage, contact page, blog templates, forms, etc.) so the audit reflects how real people use your site.
2. The Audit Begins (Week One)
The first week is entirely focused on reviewing your website. This includes
Automated Scanning (Quick Pass)
We start with accessibility tools to flag common issues — missing alt text, color contrast concerns, unlabeled buttons, and structural inconsistencies. These tools help get a high-level picture, but they’re only the starting point.
Manual & Assistive Technology Testing
This is the most important part of every audit.
We go through your website the same way different users would:Navigating with keyboard only
Using screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver
Reviewing content structure and clarity
Testing forms, navigation, interactive elements, and any important tasks
Checking visuals like contrast, focus states, and text over images
During this phase, we document key challenges with screenshots and short videos. Videos are particularly helpful because you can see and hear the issue in action.
Frequent Communication (Email + Video Updates)
Throughout the audit, we email updates and share short clips showing progress, explaining why certain issues matter, and clarifying how they impact accessibility.
This helps you understand the “why,” not just the “what.”
3. Your Audit Report
Once the review is complete, you receive a structured, easy-to-understand report that includes:
A clear summary of findings
Screenshots showing where issues were found
The WCAG guideline each issue relates to
The severity of each problem
Step-by-step recommendations for fixing it
You can use the report to complete the fixes yourself, share with your team, or move forward with us handling remediation — whichever you chose during scope discovery.
4. Remediation Phase (Week Two+)
If you hired us to handle remediation, this phase begins in the second week.
Client Approval on Visual Changes
This part is important!
Some accessibility fixes affect how elements look — buttons, headings, forms, hover states, colors, link styles, spacing, etc.
Because these updates may change the visual design of your site, we’ll email you proposed changes for approval before anything is updated.
You don’t need to be techy — we show you
A short video
A simple explanation
The “before and after” look
Why the change is needed
Your role is simply to confirm “yes, update this” or ask questions if something feels off-brand.
Behind-the-Scenes Fixes
Not all remediation changes are visual. Many happen in your code and structure — labels, alt text, heading order, ARIA, form accessibility, and more. We handle these directly and keep you informed each step of the way.
Ongoing Email Communication
Throughout remediation, you’ll receive updates as we complete sections of your site.
We continue sending short videos and emails showing what we’re fixing and what improvements look like.
5. Final Review & Optional Verification Testing
Once everything is updated, we run a second review of the affected pages to confirm issues were successfully resolved and that no new issues were introduced during updates.
This is also when we prepare your Accessibility Statement, which you can add to your website for transparency and user support.
What Happens Next?
Once the audit (and remediation, if chosen) is complete, you’ll have
A more accessible, inclusive website
A clear, easy-to-follow report for your records
Videos that explain issues your team can reference anytime
A better understanding of how to keep future content accessible
Optional ongoing support or annual checkups if you want an expert second set of eyes
Whether you’re a one-person business or have a small team helping with content, you’ll walk away more confident in how to manage your site moving forward.
Where to Go From Here
Completing an accessibility audit is a huge step toward creating an inclusive, user-friendly website — and you don’t have to tackle the next steps alone. Whether you prefer to work through the remediation list with your own team or you want a trusted expert to take care of everything for you, we’re here to support you.
If you’re ready to make your website accessible with less stress and more clarity, you can explore our services, get a free quote, or reach out with questions anytime. We pride ourselves on being friendly, transparent, and genuinely invested in helping small business owners create websites that welcome every visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose to only get the audit without having you fix the issues?
Absolutely. During our scope discovery call, we clarify whether you want an audit-only project or a full audit + remediations.
How long does the audit take?
It depends on the size of your website, but the audit itself typically takes about one week. If you’ve chosen remediation services, that phase begins in Week Two. Some updates are quick; others require approvals, especially if they change the look or layout of your site. Most audit and remediation projects take two to four weeks.
How do you communicate progress?
We primarily use email because it’s easy for small business owners to track.
We also send short video clips that show what we’re testing, what we’re updating, or why an issue matters. These videos remove the guesswork and help you understand the “why” behind the process.
Will accessibility fixes change how my website looks?
Some fixes will, particularly improvements involving contrast, button styles, link styling, heading structure, or form design. You’ll always receive visual examples and a clear explanation before we make any change that affects your design. Nothing happens without your approval.
Do I need a developer to fix accessibility issues?
Not necessarily. It depends how techy you are and how techy the fixes need to be. If more technical fixes are needed — such as structural code updates — we can handle those for you during remediations.
How do I keep my website accessible after the audit?
You’ll receive guidance and best practices for writing new content, formatting pages, and maintaining accessibility long-term. We also offer optional annual checkups if you’d like continued expert support without committing to a long-term contract.
