WCAG Digital Accessibility Audit of the Online Store Website

What is a WCAG audit and why is it important?

Analyzing a website or online store as part of a WCAG audit also involves understanding how people with diverse needs use your site. We conduct each audit individually, tailoring our approach to the specifics of the project to deliver realistic and practical solutions.

Identification of barriers—identifying elements that make it difficult for people with disabilities to use the website or online store.

Practical report and recommendations—you will receive a summary report highlighting all points and elements that comply with the standard.

Legal compliance – meeting the requirements of WCAG 2.1/2.2 and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).

Broader customer reach – reaching new customers, including people with disabilities, the visually impaired, the deaf and hard of hearing, and seniors.

Certificate of compliance – upon completion of the audit, you will receive a certificate confirming the product’s compliance with the WCAG standard.

Stronger brand image – demonstrating that you care about all users and operate a responsible business.

Full WCAG digital accessibility for your online store

The primary goal of implementing WCAG standards is to ensure that websites are accessible and easy to use for people with disabilities, including individuals who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, have motor impairments, cognitive disabilities, or other accessibility needs.

High color contrast: Ensures better visibility of elements and a more comfortable user experience for people with visual impairments.

Screen reader compatibility: Content is correctly read by assistive technologies, ensuring full accessibility of the site, e.g., for blind users.

Keyboard-only navigation: The website functions without the need for a mouse, making it easier for blind users to navigate.

Easy navigation: Intuitive menus and a logical layout of elements ensure that every user can quickly and easily find the information they need.

Alternative text for images: Image descriptions allow screen reader users to understand visual content as well.

Adjustable text size: Users can adjust the font size to their needs, which improves reading comfort for people with low vision.

Common mistakes in WCAG implementations

Practical knowledge of web technologies, UX, and accessibility tools—not just familiarity with regulations—is essential for adapting a website to WCAG requirements.

The most common issues include:

lack of captions for video content and audio transcripts.

incorrect labels for buttons, links, and attachments,

errors in the heading hierarchy (h1–h6),

missing ARIA labels in forms,

unreadable error messages, e.g., when filling out an order form,

Insufficient color contrast, especially in UI elements,

limited or no keyboard support, lack of a focus indicator,

issues with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver),

lack of alternative text (alt) for graphics and icons,

How much does WCAG implementation cost, and what determines the price?

The size and complexity of the website are the main factors influencing the cost of adapting a website or application to WCAG requirements.

The cost is influenced by, among other things:

• the size and complexity of the website (corporate website vs. a large e-commerce store),
• the number and severity of errors detected in the audit,
• the technology used (CMS, custom backend, mobile apps),
• multimedia content (captions, transcripts, audio descriptions),
• the quality of the existing code and frontend layer.

For example: simple implementations can be completed in a few weeks, while more complex websites require more specialized work.

Fines and sanctions—administrative penalties and financial consequences of up to 10% of a company’s turnover may result from violations of the regulations.

User’s right to file a complaint—any user reporting a lack of accessibility to a supervisory authority (e.g., PFRON) triggers an official inspection procedure against the website owner.

Order to rectify immediately – prompt adaptation of the website requires an administrative decision, which in practice means urgent action on the part of the company.

Loss of customers and trust – discouraging people with disabilities and their communities, as well as a negative impact on the company’s image in the eyes of other consumers, can result from a lack of accessibility.

Legal proceedings—civil lawsuits from users alleging unequal treatment or discrimination pose a real risk.

Market exclusion – the loss of opportunities to collaborate with companies requiring ESG compliance and exclusion from public tenders threaten companies that fail to meet accessibility requirements.

Equal access to online content and services for all users—not just a matter of technology—is what WCAG compliance is all about. By adapting your online store or website to WCAG guidelines, you ensure a comfortable user experience for people with disabilities, older users, and customers using various devices and browsers. A better user experience (UX) and greater trust in your brand are the results of this investment.

Compliance with WCAG also brings tangible business benefits. More potential customers and higher conversion rates mean a store accessible to everyone, while simultaneously protecting your company from the legal consequences of digital inaccessibility. By fostering the image of a responsible brand through adherence to WCAG standards, you also gain a competitive edge in the market.

List of WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria

1.1 Non-text content

1.1.1 Non-text content – Alternative text for images, icons, charts, etc.

1.2 Multimedia

1.2.1 Audio-only or video-only (recordings) – text alternative for audio or video recordings (Level A).
1.2.2 Captions (recordings) – captions for video recordings with sound (Level A).
1.2.3 Audio description or media alternative (recordings) – audio description or text alternative for video recordings (Level A).
1.2.4 Captions (live) – captions for live broadcasts (Level AA).
1.2.5 Audio description (recordings) – audio description for video recordings (Level AA).
1.2.6 Sign language (recordings) – sign language interpretation (Level AAA).
1.2.7 Extended audio description (recordings) – extended audio description (Level AAA).
1.2.8 Text alternative for media (recordings) – full text alternative for video recordings (Level AAA).
1.2.9 Audio-only (live) – text alternative for live audio broadcasts (Level AAA).

1.3 Content Structure

1.3.1 Information and reports – semantic structure (headings, lists, tables, forms) (Level A).
1.3.2 Meaningful sequence – content in logical order (Level A).
1.3.3 Sensory characteristics – instructions not limited to visual cues (e.g., “red button”) (Level A).
1.3.4 Orientation – the page functions in both portrait and landscape orientations (Level AA).
1.3.5 Field purpose identification – form fields have appropriate autocomplete attributes (Level AA).
1.3.6 Purpose identification – identification of the purpose of all interface elements (e.g., menus, icons) (Level AAA).

1.4 Content Visibility

1.4.1 Use of color – information is not conveyed solely through color (Level A).
1.4.2 Sound control – the ability to stop or mute automatically played sound (Level A).
1.4.3 Contrast (minimum) – the minimum text contrast is 4.5:1 (Level AA).
1.4.4 Text resizing – the ability to enlarge text up to 200% without losing functionality (Level AA).
1.4.5 Images containing text – we do not use images with text (except for logos) (Level AA).
1.4.6 Contrast (advanced) – text contrast is at least 7:1 (Level AAA).
1.4.7 Low/no background sound – background sound does not interfere with speech perception (Level AAA).
1.4.8 Visual presentation – the user can adjust line spacing, column width, etc. (Level AAA).
1.4.9 Text images (no exceptions) – we do not use images containing text under any circumstances (Level AAA).
1.4.10 Reflow (responsiveness) – the page functions without requiring horizontal scrolling when zoomed to 400% (Level AA).
1.4.11 Contrast of non-text elements – the minimum contrast of graphical interface elements is 3:1 (Level AA).
1.4.12 Text spacing – the ability to increase spacing between characters, lines, and paragraphs without losing readability (Level AA).
1.4.13 Hover/focus content – content that appears on hover or focus must be accessible and readable (Level AA).

2.1 Keyboard Accessibility

2.1.1 Keyboard – everything must be accessible via the keyboard (Level A).
2.1.2 No keyboard traps – the user can exit any element using the keyboard (Level A).
2.1.3 Keyboard (no exceptions) – all functions are accessible via the keyboard, with no exceptions (Level AAA).
2.1.4 Keyboard shortcuts – the ability to disable or change single-key shortcuts (Level A).

2.2 Time and Control

2.2.1 Time control – the ability to extend, pause, or disable time limits (Level A).
2.2.2 Pause, stop, hide – the ability to pause animations, carousels, and moving elements (Level A).
2.2.3 No time limits – no time limits that affect the user (Level AAA).
2.2.4 No interruptions – no unexpected interruptions in the operation of the website or application (Level AAA).
2.2.5 Re-authentication – user data is not lost after re-logging in (Level AAA).
2.2.6 Timeouts – the user is informed about time limits and their duration (AA level).

2.3 Flickering and animations

2.3.1 Three flashes or fewer – no content that flashes more than 3 times per second (Level A).
2.3.2 No flashing – no flashing content whatsoever (Level AAA).
2.3.3 Post-interaction animations – the user has the option to disable animations triggered by interaction (Level AAA).

2.4 Navigation and orientation

2.4.1 Skipping blocks – a “Skip to content” link allowing users to skip repetitive elements (Level A).
2.4.2 Page title – each page has a unique and descriptive title (Level A).
2.4.3 Focus Order – keyboard navigation follows a logical order (Level A).
2.4.4 Link Target (Contextual) – the target of each link is understandable from the context (Level A).
2.4.5 Multiple ways – there is more than one way to find a page (e.g., search, site map, menu) (Level AA).
2.4.6 Headings and labels – headings and labels are clear and descriptive (Level AA).
2.4.7 Visible focus – the keyboard focus is always visible (Level AA).
2.4.8 Location – the user knows where they are on the page (e.g., “you are here”) (Level AAA).
2.4.9 Link destination (text-only) – the destination of every link is clear without the need for context (Level AAA).
2.4.10 Section headings – content sections are clearly marked with headings (Level AAA).

2.5 Gesture Support and Motion Control

2.5.1 Pointing gestures – do not require complex gestures (Level A).
2.5.2 Canceling a pointer – the ability to cancel an action triggered by a pointer (Level A).
2.5.3 Label in name – the programmatic name must be the same as the visible label (Level A).
2.5.4 Motion control – motion-activated functions have available alternatives (Level AA).
2.5.5 Target size – the minimum size of interactive elements is 44×44 px (Level AA).
2.5.6 Simultaneous input mechanisms – do not limit data entry methods (Level AAA).

3.1 Language and Readability

3.1.1 Site language – the site has a primary language set (Level A).
3.1.2 Language of sections – language changes in the content are appropriately marked (Level A).
3.1.3 Uncommon words – difficult or rare words are explained (Level AAA).
3.1.4 Abbreviations – abbreviations are explained upon first use (Level AAA).
3.1.5 Reading level – the text is understandable to a person with at least a 9th-grade education (Level AAA).
3.1.6 Pronunciation – words that are difficult to pronounce are explained (Level AAA).

3.2 Stability and Consistency

3.2.1 On Focus – the element does not change when focus is received (Level A).
3.2.2 On Input – the element does not change unexpectedly after data is entered (Level A).
3.2.3 Consistent Navigation – the menu is consistent across all pages (Level AA).
3.2.4 Consistent identification – consistency of icons, buttons, and other interface elements (Level AA).
3.2.5 Change on demand – changes to content or the interface occur only at the user’s request (Level AAA).

3.3 Help and Error Handling

3.3.1 Error identification – clear indication of errors in forms (Level A).
3.3.2 Labels or instructions – clear instructions and labels next to form fields (Level A).
3.3.3 Error correction suggestions – suggestions for corrections when errors are detected (Level AA).
3.3.4 Error prevention (sensitive data) – prevention of errors when entering financial and legal data (Level AA).
3.3.5 Help – available help and user instructions (Level AAA).
3.3.6 Error prevention (all) – error prevention in all forms (Level AAA).

4.1 Technical Compatibility

4.1.1 Code Validity – the website’s code complies with the specification (Level A).
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value – interface elements have correctly defined names, roles, and values (Level A).
4.1.3 Status Messages – application status messages are available to screen readers (Level AA).

What are the WCAG conformance levels?

WCAG defines three levels of compliance that allow you to assess how accessible your website is:

Level A – This is the basic level of accessibility, meeting the minimum requirements. From our experience, we know that achieving this level is the absolute minimum for any website.

Level AA – This level balances accessibility with practicality of implementation. Most companies and organizations aim for this level because it ensures good accessibility while remaining a realistic goal.

Level AAA – This is the highest level of compliance, ensuring maximum accessibility. It is difficult to achieve for an entire website, but can be a goal for key features.