How to Plan and Execute an ADA Compliance Audit

The Importance of an ADA Compliance Audit

First things first: why bother with an audit? Simply put, ADA compliance isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a commitment to inclusivity. An audit helps you uncover accessibility barriers that might be preventing people with disabilities from interacting with your website, mobile app, or physical location. Regular audits are like your insurance policy against costly lawsuits and bad press. They ensure your business stays compliant with laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). But more than that, they show your customers that you care about creating a space (digital or physical) that works for everyone.

Steps to Plan an ADA Compliance Audit

Planning is half the battle. Before diving into the audit itself, take some time to lay the groundwork. Here’s how to set yourself up for success:

1. Define the Scope: Start by figuring out what you’re auditing. Is it your website, mobile app, physical store, or all of the above? If you’re tackling a large project, consider breaking it into smaller, manageable chunks.
2. Set Goals: What do you want to achieve with this audit? Whether it’s compliance with ADA standards, improving user experience, or reducing legal risks, having clear objectives will keep you focused.
3. Identify Key Areas: Focus on the high-impact areas first. For websites, this might mean navigation, forms, and multimedia content. For physical spaces, think entrances, restrooms, and signage.
4. Assemble Your Team: Decide who will conduct the audit. Will you handle it in-house or bring in accessibility experts? Having the right people on board makes all the difference.

Tools and Methods for Conducting an Audit

Now comes the fun part: rolling up your sleeves and getting into the details. A good audit combines automated tools, manual testing, and user feedback. Here’s how to do it right:

1. Automated Testing Tools: These tools are great for identifying obvious issues, like missing alt text or poor color contrast. Popular options include Axe, Wave, and EqualWeb’s accessibility scanner. But remember, automated tools only catch about 30–40% of accessibility issues.
2. Manual Reviews: Automated tools can’t catch everything—like whether your site’s navigation makes sense or if keyboard-only users can interact with every feature. That’s where manual testing comes in. Go through your site or app with fresh eyes, and think about how someone with a disability might use it.
3. User Testing with Assistive Technologies: This is the gold standard of accessibility testing. Screen readers like JAWS or NVDA, magnifiers, and voice navigation tools give you a real-world perspective on how people interact with your digital content. For physical spaces, work with individuals who use mobility aids to test your environment.

Documenting Findings and Creating an Action Plan

An audit is only as good as the plan that follows it. Here’s how to turn your findings into actionable steps:

1. Organize Your Findings: Break down the issues you’ve identified by category, such as navigation, forms, or physical barriers. Be specific—general notes like “fix accessibility issues” aren’t helpful.
2. Prioritize the Fixes: Not all issues are created equal. Tackle the ones that have the biggest impact on usability or pose the highest risk of non-compliance first. A simple fix like adding alt text can make a huge difference.
3. Create an Action Plan: Lay out the steps needed to address each issue, assign responsibilities, and set deadlines. For example:
   • Issue: Missing alt text on homepage images.
   • Solution: Add descriptive alt text to all images.
   • Deadline: Two weeks.
   • Responsible Party: Web developer.
4. Follow Up: Accessibility isn’t a one-and-done project. Schedule regular check-ins to review progress and re-audit as needed. Technology evolves, and so do accessibility standards.

Final Thoughts: Make Accessibility a Priority

Planning and executing an ADA compliance audit might feel like a big task, but it’s one that pays off in spades. From improving user experience to staying on the right side of the law, an audit is your best tool for identifying and fixing accessibility gaps. And remember, you don’t have to do it alone. EqualWeb offers tools and expertise to help you every step of the way.