How to Approach Accessibility Audits: A Practical Guide for Inclusive Digital Design
Digital accessibility empowers everyone.
In today’s connected world, making your digital platforms inclusive isn’t just a requirement, it’s a powerful opportunity. Whether you're shaping public services, leading corporate initiatives, or designing for diverse communities, accessible digital experiences enhance usability, demonstrate social responsibility, and ensure compliance. By prioritising accessibility, you're not only meeting standards, you're creating a more equitable digital future for all.
At ClerksWell, we’ve developed a structured, user-focused methodology for accessibility audits based on four guiding principles. This post outlines our approach and offers practical insights for teams looking to improve accessibility in a meaningful and sustainable way. Whether you're just starting your accessibility journey or refining existing practices, our framework provides a clear path toward more inclusive digital experiences.
1. Inclusive and Standards-Based Auditing
Accessibility begins with a commitment to inclusivity and alignment with recognised standards. We base our audits on WCAG 2.2 Level AA and the European Accessibility Act (EAA), ensuring that digital services meet current legal and ethical expectations.
What this means for your team:
- Use a mix of automated tools (e.g. Lighthouse, WAVE etc.) and manual testing to cover both code-level and user-level issues.
- Consider usability enhancement tools, which support users with visual, cognitive, and language-related needs.
- Stay informed about evolving standards - WCAG updates and regional legislation can affect your compliance status.
Tip: Even if your site passes automated checks, manual testing often reveals usability barriers that tools can’t detect.
2. User-Led Evaluation
Accessibility isn’t just about code - it’s about people. We assess how real users, including those with disabilities, interact with digital services. This helps identify barriers that aren’t obvious in technical reviews.
Key practices to adopt:
- Test with assistive technologies and keyboard-only navigation.
- Evaluate task completion for common user journeys (e.g. filling out forms, navigating menus).
- Prioritise fixes based on user impact, not just technical severity.
Tip: Involve users with lived experience in your testing process. Their feedback can highlight issues that standard audits miss.
3. Iterative and Agile Engagement
Accessibility should be integrated into your development lifecycle, not treated as a one-off task. We use an agile, phased approach that supports continuous improvement and collaboration.
How to apply this:
- Start with high-risk or high-traffic areas of your site.
- Break down audits into manageable phases with clear milestones.
- Use structured reporting to track progress and support remediation.
Tip: Embed accessibility checks into your sprint cycles and QA processes to catch issues early.
4. Flexible and Future-Proofed Insights
Digital platforms evolve and so should your accessibility strategy. Our audits are designed to support long-term accessibility maturity and adaptability to new technologies and standards.
Recommended techniques:
- Combine automated scanning with manual testing for full coverage.
- Categorise issues into critical fixes and enhancements to guide prioritisation.
Tip: Maintain an accessibility backlog and revisit it regularly as your site grows or changes.
Final Thoughts
Accessibility is a shared responsibility across design, development, content, and strategy teams. By adopting a structured, user-led, and iterative approach, organisations can move beyond compliance and towards truly inclusive digital experiences.
If you're reviewing your current accessibility practices or planning an audit, consider starting with a phased evaluation OR simply get in touch with us and we will guide you through the process with clarity, expertise, and a user-first mindset. Together, we can make accessibility a natural part of your digital strategy.
Remember, the goal isn’t perfection - it’s progress.