Accessibility Compliance & Ongoing Audits

­We believe that great websites are not only fast and visible in search results—they're also usable by everyone. Accessibility isn't an optional add-on; it's a core part of modern web optimization, user experience, and legal responsibility.

We integrate regular accessibility audits and proactive compliance planning into all of our monthly SEO plans. This means your site gets ongoing checks for common barriers, helping you stay ahead of issues without needing a separate vendor or one-time overhaul. While no service can guarantee instant full compliance (due to site complexity, CMS limitations, third-party tools, and evolving standards), our approach keeps your site moving consistently in the right direction.

Why Accessibility Matters

  • Legal Requirements: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II (updated April 2024), state and local governments must make their web content and mobile apps accessible by April 24, 2026 (for populations 50,000+) or April 26, 2027 (smaller entities). The standard? WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
  • Business & SEO Benefits: Accessible sites improve user experience, reduce bounce rates, broaden audience reach, and send positive signals to search engines.
  • Real Users: Millions rely on features like larger text, screen readers, keyboard navigation, and proper contrast. When sites fail these basics, people are excluded.

We help businesses, nonprofits, and organizations in Pennsylvania and beyond meet these expectations through ongoing support.

What’s Included in Our Monthly Plans

All Silver, Gold, and Platinum SEO plans include accessibility as a standard feature—no extra cost or separate contract.

  • Regular Audits: Automated scans (using tools like Lighthouse, axe DevTools, WAVE) + manual testing (quarterly deep dives + monthly spot-checks).
  • Key Focus Areas (aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA):
    • Text Resizing & Reflow (1.4.4 & 1.4.10): Content remains readable and functional at 200% text size (no overlap, truncation, or horizontal scrolling).
    • Color Contrast (1.4.3): Sufficient contrast for text and non-text elements (e.g., 4.5:1 ratio for normal text).
    • Keyboard Navigation (2.1.1): All interactive elements (menus, forms, buttons) fully usable without a mouse.
    • Alt Text & Labels (1.1.1, 4.1.2): Meaningful descriptions for images, forms, and ARIA landmarks.
    • Mobile & Touch Targets (2.5.5, 1.3.4): Usable on phones/tablets, with proper orientation and large enough tap areas.
    • Other Common Checks: Headings structure, focus indicators, form error handling, video captions/transcripts, and more.
  • Prioritized Recommendations: Clear, actionable fixes ranked by impact and effort.
  • Progress Tracking: Documentation of improvements over time, including audit reports and remediation status.
  • Proactive Guidance: Advice on best practices for new content, updates, or redesigns.

Common Issues We Help Identify & Fix

Here are some frequent WCAG failures we catch early:

  • Text doesn't resize properly at 200% (overlaps, cuts off, or forces horizontal scrolling).
  • Insufficient contrast (e.g., light gray text on white backgrounds).
  • Missing or poor alt text on images that convey meaning.
  • Forms without proper labels or error messages.
  • Navigation/menu items that aren't keyboard-accessible.
  • Fixed-width layouts that break on mobile with larger text sizes.

We address these through code tweaks, content updates, and workflow recommendations—often using relative units (rem/em), max-width: 100%, and responsive design principles.

Our Realistic Approach

Just like our SEO philosophy, we keep it honest:

  • We don't promise "100% compliant" overnight—compliance depends on your site's starting point and ongoing changes.
  • We focus on meaningful progress over perfection.
  • Audits are ongoing, so new issues (from updates or new content) get caught quickly.

Tools & Methods We Use

  • Automated: Google Lighthouse, axe DevTools, WAVE, Microsoft Accessibility Insights.
  • Manual: Screen reader testing (NVDA, VoiceOver), keyboard-only navigation, mobile device checks (iOS/Android text scaling).
  • Editoria11y (open source plugin)
  • Browser tools: Chrome DevTools for contrast checks and zoom simulation.

How to Get Started

  • Already on a monthly plan? Accessibility support is already active—no action needed.
  • Not yet? Book a free consultation to review your site's current accessibility baseline and discuss how our plans can help.

Accessibility and SEO go hand-in-hand: better usability means better engagement, lower bounce rates, and a wider audience. Let’s make your site work for everyone.

Questions? Reach out—we’re here to help.

 

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