This content originally appeared on TPGi and was authored by Melissa Morse
When it comes to digital accessibility, audits are essential for finding accessibility gaps and barriers, but a one-time audit won’t deliver long-term results.
Yet, many organizations approach audits as one-off events, hoping that fixing a few issues will guarantee success. This mindset leads to outdated remediation efforts, regression, missed opportunities for improvement, and the risk of legal repercussions.
In this article, we’ll explore why a continuous, managed approach to your digital accessibility can transform the accessibility audit process into a long-term, strategic asset.
The Problem with Traditional, One-Time Audits
A single audit doesn’t keep pace with the rapid changes of your digital needs. Websites evolve, content needs updating, and accessibility issues arise, making audit findings obsolete if not addressed at once.
Even if issues are immediately found in an audit, remediation efforts can be delayed. Fixing accessibility issues can also take time, often so much time that the original findings are no longer applicable. This results in resources being wasted on outdated solutions, leaving organizations back at square one.
Without ongoing testing, there’s a significant risk of regression. Accessibility issues that were resolved in a previous audit may reappear as your website continues to evolve. This approach leaves organizations vulnerable to incomplete remediation, lost revenue, tarnished brand reputation, and legal risks due to accessibility barriers that may arise.
Continuous Accessibility: A Process, Not a Project
Since digital environments are in a constant state of change, your accessibility efforts need to adapt accordingly. Audits shouldn’t be isolated. To ensure long-term accessibility, regular reviews are necessary to keep up with website changes.
Adopting an approach to accessibility and embedding accessibility checks into your workflows can have a lasting impact and sustain the changes made your content. By integrating accessibility testing into each sprint, issues can be addressed as they arise, preventing the kind of regression that occurs when accessibility is treated as an afterthought.
For some, one-time audits can be useful for understanding accessibility levels, but they do not provide a sustainable solution. Continuous audits and ongoing testing enable organizations to consistently improve their digital accessibility efforts and user experience over time.
For teams aiming to shift-left and adopt a continuous approach to accessibility but unsure where to start, partnering with an experienced accessibility consultant can provide the guidance needed to manage and sustain long-term efforts.
Achieving Long-Term Success with a Managed Accessibility Solution
A fully managed approach to digital accessibility, like TPGi as a Service (TaaS), is designed to help organizations move beyond “audit and fix” and instead embrace an “audit and evolve” mindset, by breaking large, overwhelming audit tasks into manageable segments.
Easily Manage Audit Tasks with Dedicated Support
Rather than overwhelming your team with a massive to-do list, TaaS provides a dedicated project manager who works with you to implement an accessibility strategy that aligns with your workflow and business needs. This allows your organization to prioritize accessibility efforts without derailing other key projects.
Mature Your Accessibility Program as Your Business Evolves
As your business grows and evolves, TaaS scales with you. Whether you’re expanding to new platforms or adding more content, your accessibility efforts will seamlessly adapt into your organization’s workflows, ensuring that you stay compliant and create inclusive experiences for people with disabilities.
Financial Clarity for Predictable Budgeting
Additionally, TaaS supports predictable budgeting. With flexible options, you can incorporate accessibility into your financial planning, allowing you to integrate management into either your capital or operating budgets. This financial clarity makes it easier to distribute resources toward ongoing accessibility initiatives.
Kiss Outdated Data Goodbye with Real-Time Remediation
With TaaS, remediation happens in real-time. Once your team receives the audit findings and guidance on how to resolve the issues. Your team can easily resolve accessibility findings as they come up, preventing accessibility barriers from appearing on your website or application.
TPGi as a Service (TaaS): Your Digital Accessibility Audit Evolved
Integrating accessibility into your day-to-day workflow is not only essential for supporting compliance but also vital for creating an inclusive, user-friendly experience for all users. TPGi as a Service (TaaS) serves as your dedicated partner in achieving this goal, offering the expertise and resources needed to make accessibility an integral part of your operations.
Rather than relying on one-off audits, adopting a continuous, managed approach with TaaS enables organizations to ensure that accessibility remains a long-term success. By implementing a strategy that includes regular audits and real-time remediation, your team can address issues as they arise and stay aligned with the evolving demands of your digital landscape.
Ready to take the next step? Speak with one of our experts today to learn how partnering with TaaS can transform your accessibility efforts.
The post Digital Accessibility Audit Snapshot: One Is Not Done appeared first on TPGi.
This content originally appeared on TPGi and was authored by Melissa Morse
Melissa Morse | Sciencx (2024-10-15T12:52:05+00:00) Digital Accessibility Audit Snapshot: One Is Not Done. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2024/10/15/digital-accessibility-audit-snapshot-one-is-not-done/
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