In 2025, website accessibility isn’t simply a pleasant-to-have — it’s a necessity.
If your website isn’t reachable, you may be dropping customers, damaging your brand reputation, and even risking prison movement under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance laws.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to check the accessibility of a website using free & paid tools
- How to run manual accessibility tests
- How to check if a website is ADA compliant
- How to measure website accessibility with key metrics
- Best practices for ongoing accessibility audits
Whether you’re a website developer, commercial enterprise owner, or marketer, this step-by-step accessibility checking out manual will assist you are making your website usable for all of us.
Why Website Accessibility Matters in 2025
Website accessibility ensures that all users — including people with disabilities — can navigate, understand, and interact with your site effectively.
It’s also a legal requirement in many countries.
Key Reasons Accessibility Is Important:
- Legal Compliance – Avoid lawsuits under ADA, Section 508, and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
- Better User Experience – A site that’s accessible is easier to use for everyone.
- SEO Benefits – Accessibility improvements often align with Google ranking factors (e.g., proper heading structure, alt text).
- Inclusive Brand Image – Shows you care about all customers.
Example: In 2024, several companies faced lawsuits for not having ADA-compliant websites, including retail brands and educational platforms.
How to Check Accessibility of a Website
Checking website accessibility involves automated testing, manual checks, and expert audits.
Let’s break it down step-by-step.
Step 1 – Run Automated Accessibility Checks
Automated tools quickly scan your site and detect common accessibility issues.
Popular Tools to Check Web Accessibility
| Tool Name | Type | Cost | Key Features | Available Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accessibility Assistant | Application | Free & Paid | One-click ADA & WCAG compliance checks | Shopify Web Store, Wix, and WordPress |
| WAVE | Web Tool | Free | Visual issue highlighting | Chrome Web Store |
| AXE DevTools | Browser Extension | Free & Paid | Detailed developer-friendly reports | Chrome Web Store |
| Lighthouse (Chrome) | Built-in Tool | Free | Performance + accessibility scoring | – |
| Siteimprove | Enterprise Tool | Paid | Continuous monitoring | – |
Pro Tip: Start with free tools for a quick overview, then use a professional audit for a complete report.
Step 2 – Perform Manual Accessibility Tests
Automated tools catch 40–50% of issues. Manual testing finds the rest.
Manual Checks Include:
- Keyboard Navigation – Can users navigate your site without a mouse?
- Color Contrast – Is text readable for users with low vision?
- Alt Text Review – Are all images properly described?
- Form Labels – Are forms easy to fill out with assistive technologies?
Example: Try navigating your homepage using only the Tab key — if you get lost or stuck, it’s a red flag.
Step 3 – Check If a Website Is ADA Compliant
ADA compliance means meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
Checklist for ADA Compliance:
- Text alternatives for non-text content
- Captions for videos
- Content is adaptable without losing information
- Input assistance for forms
- Contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text
For official accessibility standards and success criteria, visit the W3C WCAG Guidelines
Step 4 – Measure Website Accessibility
Once you’ve identified issues, measure your accessibility score to track improvements.
Metrics to Track:
- Accessibility Score (0–100 from Lighthouse or Accessibility Assistant)
- Number of Issues Fixed vs. Remaining
- Compliance Level (WCAG A, AA, AAA)
- User Feedback from Assistive Tech Users
Step 5 – Schedule Ongoing Accessibility Audits
Accessibility isn’t a one-time task — it’s a continuous process.
Best Practices:
- Test before every major update
- Monitor with an automated tool monthly
- Get feedback from real users with disabilities
- Keep up with WCAG updates
Industry Insights – Accessibility Trends in 2025
| Trend | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| AI-powered accessibility checks | Automated detection + remediation | Faster issue resolution |
| Voice navigation optimization | Support for voice assistants | Better accessibility for motor impairments |
| Accessibility as an SEO factor | Google prioritizes accessible sites | Higher rankings |
| Mobile-first accessibility | Testing for mobile screen readers | More inclusive UX |
Real-Life Example
A mid-sized online clothing retailer with ~15,000 monthly visitors and ~3,500 active products. The company had a growing customer base but noticed a high bounce rate (over 60%) and several complaints from users with disabilities who had trouble navigating the site.
Objective:
Improve website accessibility to meet WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines and ensure ADA compliance, while aiming to improve user experience and conversion rates.
Our Accessibility Audit Process
The retailer used Accessibility Assistant to run a full audit of their website. The process included:
- Automated Scan (using Accessibility Assistant Chrome extension)
- Manual Checks (keyboard navigation, screen reader tests, color contrast reviews)
- User Feedback from two volunteers who rely on assistive technology
Key Findings
| Issue | Description | Impact on Users |
|---|---|---|
| Missing alt text on 30% of product images | Many product images had no descriptive alternative text. | Users relying on screen readers couldn’t understand what the product was. |
| Poor contrast on call-to-action buttons | CTA buttons (e.g., “Add to Cart”) had light text on a pastel background with only a 2.5:1 contrast ratio. | Low-vision users had trouble locating and reading important buttons. |
| Non-keyboard-accessible drop-down menus | Navigation menus couldn’t be opened via keyboard-only navigation. | Users with motor impairments couldn’t access certain product categories. |
Fixes Implemented
- Alt Text for Images
- Added detailed, keyword-rich descriptions for all product images.
- Example: “Red cotton t-shirt with round neck and short sleeves – Men’s casual wear.”
- Improved Color Contrast
- Adjusted button colors to meet WCAG AA contrast ratio (at least 4.5:1).
- Example: Changed “Add to Cart” buttons from light blue text on pastel yellow to white text on dark navy blue.
- Keyboard-Friendly Menus
- Updated menu scripts to ensure the Tab and Enter keys could fully operate the dropdown navigation.
Results (After 2 Months)
| Metric | Before Fix | After Fix | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bounce Rate | 62% | 47% | ↓ 15% |
| Conversion Rate | 2.1% | 2.27% | ↑ 8% |
| Avg. Time on Site | 2 min 12 sec | 3 min 05 sec | ↑ 42 sec |
| User Accessibility Complaints | 14/month | 2/month | ↓ 86% |
Key Takeaways
- Accessibility fixes benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. Improved button contrast made CTAs more visible for mobile users in bright sunlight.
- Small changes had a measurable business impact — just fixing alt text and menus boosted sales.
- Ongoing monitoring is essential — the retailer now uses Accessibility Assistant monthly to catch new issues before they impact customers.
Pros & Cons of Automated Accessibility Testing
Pros
- Fast & Scalable – Automated tools can scan hundreds of pages in minutes, making them ideal for large websites.
- Identifies Common Issues – They quickly flag missing alt text, low contrast, broken ARIA labels, and other frequent accessibility errors.
- Affordable – Many tools are free or low-cost, offering a cost-effective starting point for accessibility audits.
Cons
- Doesn’t Catch All Issues – Automated scans often miss nuanced problems like poor link wording or complex navigation barriers.
- Requires Manual Verification – Human review is essential to confirm issues and understand their real-world impact.
- May Produce False Positives – Some flagged items might not be actual accessibility barriers, leading to unnecessary fixes if unchecked.
Website Accessibility FAQs
Q1: How often should I check my website’s accessibility?
A: At least once per quarter, and before/after major updates.
Q2: Do I need a developer to fix accessibility issues?
A: Some fixes are simple (like adding alt text), but complex issues may require a developer.
Q3: Will accessibility improve my SEO?
A: Yes. Many accessibility best practices align with SEO ranking factors.
Get a Free Trial of Our Accessibility Testing App
With our Accessibility Assistant App, you can run instant ADA & WCAG compliance checks and see exactly where your site needs improvements.
✅ Works on Multiple Platforms: Whether your site is built on Shopify, Wix, or WordPress, our app is ready to go.
✅ One-Click Installation: Get started in minutes without any technical setup.
✅ Real-Time Reports: Instantly spot and fix accessibility issues before they affect your visitors.
Start your free trial and see how simple it is to make your site inclusive for everyone and fully compliant with accessibility laws.
Install Our App on Your Platform:-
| Available Platforms |
|---|
| Shopify |
| Wix |
| WordPress |
| Other Platforms |
- Get a detailed accessibility score
- See exactly what users with disabilities experience on your site
✅ Try it free today and make your website truly inclusive!
Conclusion
In 2025, knowing how to check the accessibility of a website is essential for legal compliance, user experience, and SEO success.
By combining automated tools, manual testing, and ongoing monitoring, you can ensure your site is ADA-compliant, user-friendly, and inclusive.
Next Steps:
- Run a free accessibility scan today.
- Fix high-priority issues.
- Schedule regular audits.
Let’s make the web accessible for everyone — share this guide and help spread awareness!