What Does a WCAG Accessibility Audit Include?!!

22 Oct 2026 -

---

Currently writing post check back often.

---

A WCAG accessibility audit is a structured review of a website against a defined accessibility standard and scope. It combines expert manual testing with automated checks, then records the methods, findings, and recommended next steps in a report.

At Kaffeinated Kodemonkey, the audit uses manual testing under the DHS Trusted Tester Process, supported by automated scans powered by WAVE. The findings are documented in a WCAG Evaluation Audit Report (WEAR) and delivered with the supporting materials in a Proof of Compliance Certificate (POCC) package.

1. Define the evaluation scope

Before testing begins, the evaluator and client agree on what will be reviewed. Scope can include the website or application, page templates, representative pages, key user journeys, interactive features, and the WCAG version and conformance level being assessed.

The report should make the scope clear. A review of selected pages and journeys describes those items; it should not be read as a guarantee that every page or every possible barrier across a changing site has been evaluated.

2. Combine automated scans with manual testing

Automated tools can flag some detectable issues across configured pages. WAVE-powered scans help identify potential problems for review, but automated results need context and may require manual verification.

Manual testing under the DHS Trusted Tester Process lets an experienced tester examine applicable criteria and interactions that automated scans cannot fully assess. Together, the two methods provide a more useful picture than an automated scan alone.

3. Record findings and remediation guidance

An audit report should explain what was tested and document findings in a way that helps teams act on them. Depending on the agreed scope and deliverables, findings may include:

• The affected page, component, or user journey
• The relevant WCAG criterion
• What happened during testing and how to reproduce the issue
• The impact on people using assistive technology or other access methods
• Guidance to help the development team investigate and address the barrier

The WEAR is Kaffeinated Kodemonkey’s WCAG Evaluation Audit Report. It records the evaluation scope, methods, findings, and remediation guidance for the engagement.

4. Deliver the POCC documentation package

The POCC is the broader documentation package delivered with the evaluation. Its contents depend on the selected package and may include the WEAR, an accessibility statement, a how-to-fix report, a cover letter, a certificate seal, or procurement documentation such as a VPAT/ACR.

The documentation describes the evaluation that was performed and its results. It is not a guarantee that a website conforms to every requirement or will remain accessible as the site changes.

5. Reassess after major changes

Websites change as teams publish content, update software, redesign templates, and add third-party components. Kaffeinated Kodemonkey recommends renewing the POCC annually or after a major website update so the evaluation reflects the current site and agreed scope.

For ongoing visibility between evaluations, the client’s team can use the monitoring platform to review automated scan findings. Kaffeinated Kodemonkey adds a quarterly WCAG evaluation, WEAR report, and supporting POCC documentation through the accessibility monitoring service.

Need a WCAG accessibility audit?

If your organization needs a structured evaluation, report, and supporting documentation, see the WCAG accessibility audit and POCC service. The evaluation scope, methods, and deliverables are agreed during scoping.

To understand the role of automated tools, read WCAG accessibility audit vs. automated scan. For renewal timing, see when to repeat a website accessibility audit.