Who Should Consider a Web Accessibility Audit?

Web accessibility standards are applicable to all commercial businesses, nonprofits, and public entities with a publicly accessible website. If a member of your community relies on your site to explore services, gather information, or complete a form, the underlying code must accommodate their method of interaction.

Depending on the type of organization, this expectation is supported by specific federal or state regulations — detailed below — but the fundamental reason to prioritize this is straightforward: visitors unable to use your site will leave, irrespective of whether a regulation is involved.

Your particular obligations and audit requirements differ based on your organization type. Here’s a breakdown of those distinctions.

E-Commerce and Small Enterprises.

If your website offers local services or facilitates online orders, it falls under Title III of the ADA as a public accommodation—similar to the standards governing accessible parking and signage in a physical environment.

There’s a practical aspect as well: users who rely solely on keyboards, individuals with color blindness, older visitors, and those facing temporary challenges—such as a sprained wrist or recent eye surgery—are likely to abandon a site that feels dysfunctional.



Common issues we encounter include:

• Hidden or absent keyboard focus indicators.
• Disrupted tab order in shopping carts or drop-down menus.
• Low-contrast filters and product text.
• Form errors that fail to clarify what went wrong.
  

Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofits and community organizations—such as social programs, early childhood centers, and regional foundations—serve the public, so their websites must meet the same accessibility standards as any other public-facing organization.

Entities that receive funding from state, county, or federal sources have an additional obligation under Section 504/505: they must comply with civil rights regulations linked directly to that funding, including website accessibility. Nonprofit status typically does not exempt organizations from these requirements, so consult legal counsel if you have any uncertainties. Regardless of where the legal threshold lies, addressing these issues is essential.

Common accessibility gaps we often encounter include:

• Fundraising information, phone numbers, or donation criteria presented in image graphics that are inaccessible to screen readers.
• Donation forms lacking descriptive labels for their fields.
• Third-party integrations—such as donor processing tools and maps—that have not been properly assessed for accessibility.

Even if you integrate a third-party tool into your site, ensuring its accessibility remains your obligation. While you may not be able to resolve accessibility issues within that tool directly, you should still document them in your accessibility statement.

Public Sector Organizations and Local Authorities.

Title II of the ADA governs local governments, public health departments, school districts, and municipal services and requires state and local public entities to ensure their web portals and public documents comply with WCAG 2.1/2.2 Level AA. The specific baseline and compliance date depend on your entity's population size, so it's essential to confirm where your entity stands.

Public websites must be accessible for all residents to obtain health information, review local regulations, or submit forms independently.

Common challenges found on public sector websites include:

• Unlabeled document portals and untagged PDFs that are non-compliant
• Missing "Skip to Main Content" links, which create unnecessary steps for keyboard users on every page.
• Interactive maps lacking accessible text alternatives or data labels.
• Graphics that contain important information that isn't visible elsewhere on the page and renders them unreadable by screen reading software.
  

Schools and Educational Institutions

From early childhood programs to higher education, federal civil rights laws govern educational institutions and mandate equal access to educational resources, enrollment tools, and public communications for students, parents, and staff with disabilities.

A straightforward automated scan does not equate to compliance — educational websites often consist of extensive, multi-page systems that require manual testing with keyboards and screen readers to ensure that no barriers exist for those attempting to access them.

Common issues we encounter include:

• Interactive calendars and event listings that are inaccessible via keyboard.
• Parent portals and enrollment forms containing unlabeled fields.
• Document libraries and syllabi presented as untagged PDFs.
  

Professional Service Firms

Law firms, accounting businesses, insurance companies, real estate agencies, and healthcare clinics often mistakenly believe accessibility regulations apply only to retail establishments.

In reality, the same Title III standards applicable to small businesses also pertain to these sectors — and even a straightforward 5–10 page brochure website can present significant accessibility challenges.

Here are some common issues we encounter:

• Insufficient color contrast that fails to comply with WCAG standards.
• Heading tags (H1, H2, H3) being used primarily for visual appeal rather than actual page hierarchy, which is crucial for keyboard and screen reader users to navigate effectively.Inaccessible PDFs, including bios, intake forms, and disclosures.

These problems are typically straightforward to recognize and address.