A proper accessibility audit goes beyond running an automated scanner. It requires systematic testing across multiple dimensions: automated tools, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and visual inspection.
This checklist breaks down the audit process into manageable steps, so you can conduct a thorough assessment whether you're auditing your own site or a client's.
What you'll need:
- • Access to all major page templates (homepage, product pages, checkout, forms, etc.)
- • A keyboard (laptop or external)
- • Screen reader (VoiceOver on Mac, NVDA on Windows)
- • Automated scanning tool like RatedWithAI
- • Browser developer tools
- • Spreadsheet or tracking system for findings
Phase 1: Audit Preparation
Before you start testing, you need to define scope and set up your environment.
📋 Preparation Checklist
- Identify key page templates — List all unique page types (homepage, category pages, product detail, checkout, contact form, blog post, etc.)
- Map user journeys — Document critical paths like signup, purchase, and support request flows
- Gather existing documentation — Collect any previous audits, accessibility statements, or known issues
- Define conformance target — Typically WCAG 2.1 AA or WCAG 2.2 AA
- Set up testing environment — Clear browser cache, disable extensions that might interfere
- Create findings template — Spreadsheet with columns for issue, WCAG criterion, severity, location, and fix
Phase 2: Automated Scanning
Automated tools catch 30-50% of accessibility issues instantly. They're excellent for identifying low-hanging fruit like missing alt text, contrast failures, and improperly labeled forms.
Run Your Initial Scan
Start with a comprehensive automated scan of your key pages. RatedWithAI provides instant results with specific remediation guidance.
Scan Your Site Free →📋 Automated Testing Checklist
- Scan homepage and landing pages
- Scan category/listing pages
- Scan detail pages (product, article, profile)
- Scan all forms (contact, signup, checkout)
- Scan login/authentication pages
- Scan error pages (404, server error)
- Export and categorize results by WCAG criterion
- Note false positives for later review
Phase 3: Keyboard Accessibility Testing
Put your mouse away. Everything on your site should be operable using only a keyboard. This is critical for users with motor disabilities and those using assistive devices.
Key commands:
- Tab — Move forward through elements
- Shift + Tab — Move backward
- Enter — Activate links and buttons
- Space — Activate buttons, checkboxes
- Arrow keys — Navigate within menus, sliders
- Escape — Close modals, cancel
📋 Keyboard Testing Checklist
- Focus indicator visible — Can you always see which element is focused? (WCAG 2.4.7)
- Logical tab order — Does focus move in a sensible sequence? (WCAG 2.4.3)
- All interactive elements reachable — Can you Tab to every button, link, and form field? (WCAG 2.1.1)
- No keyboard traps — Can you Tab away from every element? (WCAG 2.1.2)
- Modals trap focus correctly — Focus stays within modal until closed
- Skip links present — "Skip to main content" link available
- Dropdown menus navigable — Can open, navigate, and close with keyboard
- Forms completable — Can fill and submit without a mouse
- Carousels/sliders controllable — Play/pause and navigation work with keyboard
Phase 4: Screen Reader Testing
Screen readers reveal whether your content is properly structured and labeled. Even 15 minutes of screen reader testing will uncover issues that automated tools miss.
Mac (VoiceOver)
Press Cmd + F5 to toggle. Use VO + Arrow keys to navigate.
Windows (NVDA)
Free download. Press Insert as the NVDA modifier key.
📋 Screen Reader Testing Checklist
- Page title announced — Describes the page purpose (WCAG 2.4.2)
- Headings hierarchy correct — H1 → H2 → H3 structure announced properly
- Images have meaningful alt text — Not "image" or "IMG_2847.jpg" (WCAG 1.1.1)
- Links have clear purpose — Not just "click here" or "read more"
- Form fields labeled — Each input announces what it's for (WCAG 1.3.1)
- Buttons have accessible names — Not just icon descriptions
- Tables have headers — Row/column headers announced properly
- Landmarks present — Navigation, main, footer regions announced
- Error messages announced — Form errors are read when they appear
- Dynamic content announced — Live regions for updates, alerts
Phase 5: Visual Accessibility Testing
Some accessibility issues are visible to the eye—you just need to know what to look for.
📋 Visual Testing Checklist
- Color contrast passes — 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text (WCAG 1.4.3)
- Color not sole indicator — Errors/status use more than just color (WCAG 1.4.1)
- 200% zoom works — Content reflows without horizontal scroll (WCAG 1.4.4)
- 400% zoom usable — Core content accessible at extreme zoom
- Touch targets large enough — At least 24×24 CSS pixels
- No flashing content — Nothing flashes more than 3 times/second
- Motion can be paused — Carousels and animations have controls
- Text not in images — Real text used instead of image-text
- Focus indicator contrast — Focus outline meets 3:1 ratio
Phase 6: Cognitive & Content Accessibility
These checks help users with cognitive disabilities, learning differences, and attention challenges.
📋 Cognitive Accessibility Checklist
- Error messages clear — Explain what went wrong and how to fix
- Form instructions provided — Required fields and formats explained
- Consistent navigation — Same menus in same places across pages
- Help consistently located — Contact/support in same spot everywhere
- No redundant entry — Previously entered info auto-filled
- Timeouts have warnings — Users can extend session time
- Plain language used — Complex jargon avoided or explained
- Password managers supported — Paste not disabled in auth fields
Phase 7: Documentation & Remediation Planning
An audit is only useful if findings are documented and prioritized for action.
📋 Documentation Checklist
- Catalog all issues — Each issue with location, WCAG criterion, and screenshot
- Assign severity levels — Critical (blocks users), Major (difficult), Minor (inconvenient)
- Estimate effort — Quick fix (<1 hour), Medium (1-4 hours), Major (>4 hours)
- Prioritize by impact — Critical + quick fixes first
- Create remediation roadmap — Assign owners and deadlines
- Schedule follow-up audit — Re-test after fixes are deployed
Prioritization Matrix
🔥 Do First
Critical severity + low effort
📅 Plan
Critical severity + high effort
✅ Quick Wins
Minor severity + low effort
📋 Backlog
Minor severity + high effort
Start Your Audit
Get Your Baseline Accessibility Report
Begin your audit with an AI-powered scan that identifies WCAG violations and provides clear remediation steps.