Feeling ready to tackle this? Here’s your step-by-step game plan for making your website accessible without losing your mind.
Step 1: Audit Your Current Site
Before you fix anything, you need to know what’s broken.
Run automated scans: - Use WAVE or Lighthouse on your key pages - Focus on homepage, main service pages, contact page, and any e-commerce functionality - Export or screenshot the results
Do basic manual checks: - Navigate your entire site using only your keyboard (Tab, Enter, arrow keys) - Check if you can always see which element is focused - Test forms by filling them out and submitting
Document what you find: - Create a spreadsheet listing issues, locations, and severity - Note which are Level A violations (fix first) vs. Level AA
Step 2: Prioritize Fixes
Not all issues are equal. Prioritize based on:
- Impact — How many users affected? How severely?
- Level — Level A before Level AA
- Traffic — Fix high-traffic pages first
- Complexity — Quick wins build momentum
Common quick wins: - Add missing alt text to images - Add labels to form fields - Fix color contrast issues - Add skip navigation links - Ensure all pages have unique, descriptive titles
Step 3: Create an Accessibility Statement
An accessibility statement shows you take this seriously. Include:
- Your commitment to accessibility
- Which WCAG level you’re working toward
- Known limitations and workarounds
- How to contact you with accessibility issues
- Target date for full compliance
This doesn’t admit liability—it demonstrates good faith.
Step 4: Build Accessibility Into Your Process
Accessibility isn’t a one-time project. Build it into how you work:
When adding content: - Always add alt text to images - Use proper heading structure - Write descriptive link text - Add captions to videos
When designing: - Check color contrast before finalizing - Plan for keyboard navigation - Consider how screen readers will interpret content
When developing: - Use semantic HTML - Test with keyboard and screen reader - Run automated scans before launching
Your First 30 Days
Here’s a realistic 30-day action plan:
Week 1: - Run automated scans on your top 5 pages - Document all Level A issues - Fix missing alt text on those pages
Week 2: - Test keyboard navigation on your entire site - Fix issues that prevent keyboard access - Check and fix color contrast on key pages
Week 3: - Review and fix form accessibility - Add or improve your accessibility statement - Test with a screen reader
Week 4: - Address remaining Level A issues - Begin tackling Level AA items - Create ongoing accessibility checklist for new content
When to Get Professional Help
For complex sites or when compliance is critical, professional help makes sense:
- Accessibility consultants can conduct thorough audits with manual and user testing
- Web developers with accessibility expertise can remediate issues properly
- Ongoing monitoring services can catch new issues as you add content
The investment in professional help is often far less than the cost of a single lawsuit.
The Key Takeaway
WCAG compliance isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Start with the basics, build good habits, and improve over time.
You don’t need to fix everything overnight. But you do need to start.
Goggles on. Let’s do this.
Read the full guide: WCAG Compliance Guide
Need help making your website accessible? Contact Egmer Marketing for a free accessibility review.
