What is a WCAG audit?
A WCAG audit (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a systematic review of a website for digital accessibility — whether people with disabilities (including blind, low-vision, and mobility-limited users) can use the site. The audit finds barriers: missing alt text, poor contrast, inaccessible forms, broken keyboard navigation.
WCAG 2.2 is the current reference standard cited by European law (EAA — European Accessibility Act) and public-sector rules. An audit is the first step before fixes and compliance documentation.
When is a WCAG audit required?
Obligations apply to: public sector bodies, companies offering banking, e-commerce, transport, telecom services (EAA from June 2025), and organizations using EU funds. Private companies increasingly audit proactively — to avoid lawsuits, fines, and lost customers.
Even without a formal duty, accessibility means better SEO, wider reach, and brand ethics. Around 15–20% of the population has permanent or temporary limitations — an inaccessible site loses customers.
What does a WCAG audit look like?
A professional audit combines: automated tests (axe, WAVE), manual review (keyboard, screen reader), code and design review. The output is a report listing issues by WCAG level (A, AA, AAA) and fix priority.
After the audit comes remediation — implementing fixes, retesting, and compliance documentation. An audit on paper without fixes has no business value.
WCAG levels — A, AA, AAA
In practice businesses target level AA — required by EAA and most public tenders. Level A is minimum, AAA is maximum (rarely applied in full due to cost). The audit shows which AA criteria are not met.
Common issues: text contrast below 4.5:1, missing focus visible, forms without labels, videos without captions, PDFs inaccessible to screen readers.
How much does audit and remediation cost?
Cost depends on site size, number of templates, and technical state. A small company site is a different budget than a portal with thousands of pages. Audit + remediation is an investment — cheaper than fines, lawsuits, and rebuilding after an inspection.
For new projects, “accessibility first” design is cheaper than fixing an old site. Include WCAG at design and development stage.
Need a WCAG audit and remediation?
I perform accessibility audits and implement fixes on WordPress sites, WooCommerce stores, and web apps. I know WCAG 2.2, EAA, and sector requirements.
Contact me — we will discuss site scope, timeline, and a plan to reach AA compliance.
