Digital accessibility has become a baseline expectation for modern websites. Since the European Accessibility Act came into effect on 28 June 2025, more organisations have had to assess whether their websites, apps and digital services are usable for everyone. For most teams, this will start with an accessibility audit.
An accessibility audit gives organisations a practical view of where their website stands today, what barriers are affecting users, and which improvements will create the greatest impact. At Kooba, our audit process is designed to move accessibility from an abstract requirement into a clear, prioritised roadmap for better digital experiences.
The value of digital accessibility
Accessibility is often discussed through the lens of compliance, but its value extends much further. A more accessible website is a better website for every user. Clear navigation, readable content, strong colour contrast, helpful form design, captions, keyboard access and well structured pages all reduce friction across the full digital journey.
For businesses, this translates to direct commercial value. Accessibility can increase reach, improve trust, build stronger conversion rates and help users complete important tasks with less effort. It also supports AI visibility, because accessible websites tend to have clearer structures, semantic content and stronger technical foundations, all of which help AI tools understand and retrieve information more effectively.
The basics: What is an audit?
The first step towards this is typically an audit.
An accessibility audit is a systematic review of a website or digital platform. It identifies issues that make it harder for disabled users to access content, navigate pages, complete forms, use interactive features or understand key information. A strong audit also explains how those issues should be fixed, so teams can move from diagnosis to delivery.
The process usually begins by defining the pages, templates or user journeys that need to be tested. This may include a homepage, content pages, ecommerce journeys, forms, account areas or high value conversion paths. From there, auditors assess the experience against recognised standards such as WCAG 2.2, before producing a report that explains the issues found, the level of severity and the recommended next steps.
Manual audits vs automated audits
Two different systems are used to perform audits:
Automated audits use specialist tools to scan selected pages and identify accessibility issues at scale. They are useful for covering large volumes of content quickly, finding repeat technical issues and tracking improvements over time. For complex websites with many templates, automated testing can provide a valuable first layer of insight.
Manual audits add human judgement. A qualified accessibility tester reviews the website in context, considering how real users experience the interface, content and journeys. This is essential because automated tools cannot fully understand intent, usability or the more nuanced barriers that affect people using assistive technologies.
Typically, the best approach combines both. Automated testing helps identify issues quickly and consistently, while manual testing gives the audit depth, context and practical relevance.
Thinking beyond compliance
Compliance matters, but accessibility should not stop at meeting the minimum standard. True accessibility is about creating digital experiences that people can use confidently, comfortably and independently. That requires teams to think beyond technical checks and look at the full user experience.
For instance, a button may technically meet WCAG standards, but still be confusing for the users that actually engage with it. Unless the wider UX of your website makes it easy for visitors to find relevant information, you’ll struggle to provide a truly inclusive experience.
The next step: Remediation
After an audit is complete we can take action. This means fixing the barriers flagged during the audit and improving the experience for users.
Remediation can include changes to code, design, content, structure, forms, media, navigation or CMS patterns. Some fixes are straightforward, such as improving alternative text or adjusting colour contrast. Others require deeper UX, development or content work, particularly where an issue affects a core user journey.
After remediation, a verification audit tests the updated website again. This confirms whether the issues have been resolved and helps organisations build confidence before publishing an accessibility statement or progressing towards certification.
How AI can help the auditing process
AI is changing the accessibility process in many ways. Used well, AI can help auditors and developers work faster by scanning more pages in automated scans, helping to identify common issues. This can increase coverage and reduce timelines across larger digital platforms.
AI development tools can also streamline the remediation process, allowing developers and designers to fix more issues at a higher standard than ever before.
However, AI still needs oversight. It cannot fully assess whether a digital experience works for real people, and it cannot reliably judge every nuance of usability, context or intent. Human auditors remain essential because they understand the goals of the organisation, the needs of users and the lived reality of navigating digital spaces with different abilities and assistive technologies.
Where to begin
To start on your own journey towards digital inclusion, you can reach out to our expert team at Kooba today.
Alternatively, you can discover more about our accessibility offerings at AccessPoint, our specialised accessibility sub-agency.
Either way, we would love to hear from you!
