Run an Accessibility Audit

Use this to find and rank access barriers against WCAG, then fix. Automated scans are the start, not the audit. This is not a usability test with a screen reader tacked on.

Steps

Scope, then one testing pass (auto, keyboard, AT), then report and rank, then fix, then keep it from rotting.

01Scope the audit

Pages, flows, components, WCAG level. Start with high-traffic and critical paths. Write the timeline.

04Fix and keep

Fix in the component where you can. Re-test the same way you found it. Put checks in CI and in the definition of done so this is not an annual surprise.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lighthouse enough?

No. Use it, then keyboard and a screen reader on the real flows. The scan finds contrast and missing labels. It will not tell you the checkout is unusable with VoiceOver.

Should this be a usability test instead?

Run usability if you need to know whether people can finish a task. Run this when you need WCAG mapped, ranked, and assigned. You can do both. Do not skip keyboard because you booked sessions.

The product is already shipping. Audit now or wait for the new system?

Audit now on the paths people actually use. A future library will not fix today’s signup. Put the component-level issues on the design-system list.