Making a website ADA compliant requires a specific sequence of accessibility services, not a single product or quick fix. The core services are an accessibility audit, remediation, validation, and user testing. An audit identifies WCAG issues on the site. Remediation fixes those issues in the code and content. Validation confirms the fixes work as intended. User testing adds a real-world layer by having people with disabilities interact with the site using assistive technology. Together, these services move a website from unknown risk to documented WCAG 2.1 AA conformance, which is the standard courts reference in ADA website cases.
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Accessibility Audit | A (manual) WCAG 2.1 AA evaluation that identifies every accessibility issue on the site. |
| Remediation | Code and content fixes applied to address each issue in the audit report. |
| Validation | An auditor reviews the fixes to confirm each issue has been properly addressed. |
| User Testing | People with disabilities use the site with screen readers and other assistive tools. |
| Documentation | Accessibility statement, policy, and conformance records that show the work was done. |
Accessibility Audit
The audit is the starting point. Without one, every other service is guesswork. A (manual) accessibility audit is the only way to determine WCAG conformance because automated scans only flag approximately 25% of issues.
An auditor evaluates each page or template against WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria. The deliverable is a report listing every issue with location, severity, and a recommended fix. That report becomes the working document for everything that follows.
For most websites, the audit covers a representative sample of templates and unique page types, not every URL. The sample method works because most issues repeat across pages built from the same template.
Remediation
Remediation is where the fixes happen. A developer or accessibility engineer works through the audit report and applies the recommended changes to the code, content, and design.
Common fixes include adding alt text to images, correcting heading structure, labeling form fields, improving color contrast, and making interactive elements keyboard accessible. Some fixes are quick. Others, like rebuilding a custom dropdown menu or modal, take more time.
Remediation can be done by the site owner’s internal team if they have the skill set, or by an outside accessibility developer. Either way, the audit report serves as the roadmap.
Validation
Validation closes the loop. After fixes are applied, an auditor reviews the site again to confirm each issue has been properly addressed. This is a focused review, not a second full audit.
Why validation matters: a fix that looks correct in code may not actually resolve the issue for assistive technology users. Validation catches incomplete fixes, new issues introduced during remediation, and edge cases the original report flagged but the developer misinterpreted.
The validated report is what most companies use as evidence of WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.
Do You Need User Testing?
User testing is not strictly required for ADA compliance, but it carries weight that an audit alone cannot. When people who actually use screen readers, voice control, or keyboard-only navigation try to complete real tasks on your site, they surface friction that technical conformance can miss.
For sites with heavy lawsuit exposure, ecommerce stores, healthcare, financial services, and large public-facing brands, user testing is a strong addition. It also produces documentation that can support a legal defense if a demand letter arrives.
Documentation and Ongoing Work
Once the technical work is complete, two documents matter: an accessibility statement and an internal accessibility policy. The statement is published on the website and explains the conformance status, contact information for accessibility issues, and known limitations. The policy is internal and governs how new content and features stay accessible going forward.
ADA compliance is not a one-time project. Websites change. New pages, new features, and new content can introduce issues. Most companies plan for a follow-up audit annually or after major releases, plus scan-based monitoring in between.
What Order Should These Services Happen In?
The sequence is audit, then remediation, then validation, then user testing if applicable, then documentation. Some teams conduct user testing earlier to inform priorities, but the technical audit comes first because it produces the working list of WCAG issues.
Skipping steps creates problems. Remediation without an audit means fixing what feels broken instead of what actually fails WCAG. Validation without remediation has nothing to verify. Documentation without conformance work is just a statement with no evidence behind it.
How much do these services cost together?
Total cost depends on site size, complexity, and how much remediation work is needed. A small marketing site might run a few thousand dollars across audit and remediation. A large ecommerce site or web app can run into five figures. The audit is the most predictable line item. Remediation varies the most.
Can a website be ADA compliant without all of these services?
Technically, ADA compliance is about whether the site meets accessibility standards, not which services were purchased. A site built accessibly from the start by a skilled team may not need a full remediation phase. But for most existing websites, the audit-remediation-validation sequence is the path to documented conformance.
Are accessibility scans enough on their own?
No. Scans detect approximately 25% of issues and cannot determine conformance. They are useful for ongoing monitoring between audits, not as a replacement for a (manual) evaluation.
The companies that stay out of ADA trouble are the ones that treat accessibility as a sequence of connected services, each one feeding the next. Skipping a step is where risk creeps back in.
Contact Kris to talk through which services your website actually needs: Contact Kris about ADA website compliance services.