No matter what industry you’re in, web accessibility has become a baseline expectation. Lawsuits citing ADA and WCAG violations have risen sharply in recent years and regulations continue to expand across states and countries. What was once treated as a “nice to have” has become table stakes for operating online.
But accessibility is about so much more than avoiding risk. It’s about creating better digital experiences for everyone. Many websites and mobile apps unintentionally exclude people who rely on assistive technologies to navigate digital content.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 29% of U.S. adults live with a disability. When your site or app isn’t designed with accessibility in mind, you’re leaving a significant portion of your potential customer base out.
Accessibility means designing digital products, services, and websites that everyone can use, regardless of ability. By making your website or app accessible, you’re improving usability, expanding your reach, and strengthening the connection between your brand and the people you serve.
A web accessibility audit identifies accessibility issues that limit usability for people with a range of disabilities. It’s both a compliance safeguard and a user experience best practice. As ADA-related website lawsuits continue to increase each year, proactive accessibility audits protect your organization, improve user satisfaction, and strengthen your brand.
Why Inclusion Matters for Your Brand
Integrity’s philosophy is that the user experience (UX) is your brand. Every click, tap, and scroll shapes how people perceive your business. When your digital platforms are accessible, you’re sending a clear message that you value all users.
Accessibility builds trust and loyalty. When everyone can easily interact with your site, they’re more likely to return, engage, and recommend your business. It also expands your audience, welcoming people with visual impairments, mobility limitations, or cognitive differences who might otherwise struggle to use your site.
Inclusive design is human-centered design. It reflects empathy, professionalism, and a forward-thinking brand that aligns with modern accessibility standards.
What Is an Accessibility Audit?
A web accessibility audit is a comprehensive audit of how accessible a website, app, or software program is for users with disabilities. Accessibility experts review the entire website or digital platform using a combination of manual testing and web accessibility evaluation tools to identify accessibility problems and compliance gaps.
Audits test real user journeys, not just code, and cover a range of assistive technologies such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, and voice control tools. They also review compliance with major accessibility frameworks and accessibility laws, including:
- WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) from the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Accessibility Initiative.
- ADA Title III (Americans with Disabilities Act), covering public-facing digital content and services.
- Section 508 (for government services and federally funded sites).
- European Accessibility Act, where applicable for international standards.
The evaluation process produces an audit report that outlines accessibility requirements, level of compliance, and practical recommendations.
What’s Included in an Accessibility Audit
A detailed accessibility audit examines key aspects of accessibility across digital platforms and mobile applications. Each audit scope can vary, but it typically includes:
- Keyboard navigation – ensuring every function is accessible without a mouse.
- Color contrast and text size – verifying legibility for users with visual impairments.
- Alt text and accessible names – ensuring all images and icons are properly described for screen readers.
- Form fields and error messages – checking that users receive clear, accessible feedback and instructions.
- Video and audio content – confirming captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions are available.
- Structure and semantics – making sure HTML headings and tags are logical for assistive technology.
- Mobile responsiveness – validating that accessibility is consistent across devices and mobile apps.
A comprehensive report summarizes all findings, prioritizing issues by severity and mapping them to WCAG standards and other technical standards.
How Accessibility Fits Into Integrity’s Work
At Integrity, accessibility is part of every stage of our design and development process. Our human-centered and objective design principles ensure that usability and inclusion work together.
We integrate accessibility requirements from initial design concepts through development and QA testing. Whether we’re building a new website, evaluating an existing platform, or auditing a software program, our team ensures compliance with WCAG standards, ADA guidelines, and other international standards.
Accessibility isn’t a one-time task. It’s an ongoing process of manual checks, content updates, and continual improvement that keeps your digital products inclusive and legally sound.
What You’ll Receive from an Accessibility Audit
An accessibility audit from Integrity provides more than a checklist. You’ll receive:
- A comprehensive report summarizing accessibility gaps and severity levels.
- A detailed report outlining actionable recommendations aligned with WCAG standards.
- An accessibility compliance roadmap with actionable next steps.
- Optional remediation support and follow-up audit verification to confirm improvements.
Each report can include accessibility scoring, links to relevant information, and guidance on maintaining good accessibility across your reusable components library and digital platforms.
Why Accessibility Benefits Everyone
Accessibility improves user experience for all visitors, not only those with disabilities. Captions help users in noisy environments. Clear form fields reduce frustration. Larger buttons and clear structure improve navigation for everyone.
Accessible websites also perform better with search engines, enhance usability across online services, and reduce risk under accessibility laws and privacy policies.
These are accessibility features, but they’re also good UX. They reduce friction, improve satisfaction, and lead to better business outcomes. When accessibility is built into your design process, your site becomes more intuitive, consistent, and effective for every user.
Accessibility and Legal Protection
Accessibility is not only good practice, it’s good protection. Meeting accessibility standards such as WCAG and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helps reduce legal risk and shows that your business values equal access.
Here in St. Louis and across the country, small businesses and restaurants are increasingly being targeted with lawsuits for websites that do not meet accessibility requirements. Proactive accessibility auditing helps you identify and correct potential issues before they become legal problems, protecting your brand reputation and your bottom line.
Accessibility can be viewed as both a moral responsibility and a competitive advantage. It’s about creating digital products that everyone can access and enjoy, while meeting essential legal requirements and best practices.
Let’s make sure your digital experience is open to everyone. Contact Integrity to start your accessibility audit and take the next step toward inclusive, compliant design.
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