The Short Answer
Accessibility isn’t a checkbox. It’s a quality standard.
If 15% of users can’t use your product, you have a design problem.
The 4 Principles of WCAG 2.2
Perceivable
Can users see and hear everything?
- Color contrast ratios
- Text alternatives for images
- Captions for video
- Resizable text
Operable
Can users interact with everything?
- Keyboard navigation
- No keyboard traps
- Enough time to read
- No flashing content
Understandable
Can users understand the content?
- Clear language
- Consistent navigation
- Predictable behavior
- Error prevention
Robust
Can all technologies access the content?
- Valid HTML
- Screen reader compatible
- Future-proof markup
The Audit Process
Phase 1: Automated Testing
- axe DevTools
- Lighthouse accessibility
- WAVE
- Color contrast checkers
Phase 2: Manual Testing
- Keyboard-only navigation
- Screen reader testing (VoiceOver, NVDA)
- Zoom to 200%
- Reduce motion preferences
Phase 3: User Testing
- Test with disabled users
- Screen reader users
- Motor impairment users
- Cognitive disability users
Accessibility Audit Checklist
- All images have alt text
- Color contrast ratio 4.5:1 minimum
- Full keyboard navigation
- Focus indicators visible
- Form labels present
- Error messages clear and actionable
- No color-only information
- Captions for video/audio
- Skip navigation links
- Semantic HTML used
The Bottom Line
Accessibility is not optional. It’s a legal requirement and a moral imperative. Audit regularly. Test with real users. Fix what breaks. It’s good design, period.