Website accessibility audit per WCAG 2.1 (Level AAA)

Website Accessibility Audit by WCAG 2.1 Level AAA Standard

WCAG 2.1 AAA is the highest level of web accessibility conformance. It includes 28 additional criteria beyond AA. Complete AAA conformance across an entire website is practically impossible and is not a goal — W3C explicitly states this in the specification. AAA is used for critical sections: government services, healthcare platforms, educational services.

Additional AAA Criteria (beyond AA)

Perceivability:

1.2.6 Sign Language (AAA) — synchronized sign language interpretation for video.

1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (AAA) — extended audio description for video where pauses are insufficient for action description.

1.4.6 Contrast Enhanced (AAA) — minimum contrast 7:1 for normal text, 4.5:1 for large:

/* AAA: 7:1 for body text */
body {
    color: #1a1a1a;       /* 17.1:1 on white ✓ */
    background: #ffffff;
}

.text-secondary {
    color: #595959;       /* 7.0:1 on white — exactly AAA */
}

1.4.8 Visual Presentation (AAA) — additional text block requirements:

/* User must be able to configure: */
article {
    /* - Width no more than 80 characters */
    max-width: 80ch;

    /* - Line height minimum 1.5 */
    line-height: 1.5;

    /* - Paragraph spacing 1.5× line height */
    p + p {
        margin-top: 1.5em;
    }

    /* - Alignment left, not justified */
    text-align: left;
}

1.4.9 Images of Text (AAA) — text should not be rendered as image (except logos).

Operability:

2.1.3 Keyboard (No Exception) (AAA) — absolutely all functions via keyboard, no exceptions. AA allows exceptions for drawing and similar — AAA does not.

2.2.3 No Timing (AAA) — no time limits at all.

2.2.6 Timeouts (AAA) — warn user of timeout 20+ seconds in advance.

2.3.2 Three Flashes (AAA) — nothing flashing more than 3 times per second. AA allows single "red flash."

2.4.8 Location (AAA) — user understands where they are in site structure:

<!-- Breadcrumbs are mandatory and semantically correct -->
<nav aria-label="Breadcrumb">
    <ol>
        <li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
        <li><a href="/products">Products</a></li>
        <li aria-current="page">Smartphones</li>
    </ol>
</nav>

2.4.9 Link Purpose — Link Only (AAA) — purpose of every link is clear from link text alone:

<!-- Violates AAA -->
<a href="/read-more">Read more</a>

<!-- Complies with AAA -->
<a href="/products/iphone-15">iPhone 15 Pro Smartphone — read more</a>
<!-- or: -->
<a href="/products/iphone-15">
    Read more
    <span class="sr-only">about iPhone 15 Pro smartphone</span>
</a>

Understandability:

3.1.3 Unusual Words (AAA) — mechanism for explaining unusual words and jargon:

<abbr title="Search Engine Optimization">SEO</abbr>

<!-- Or glossary with anchor links -->
<p>Used the <a href="/glossary#kpi">KPI</a> evaluation method.</p>

3.1.4 Abbreviations (AAA) — expansion of abbreviations via <abbr>.

3.1.5 Reading Level (AAA) — simplified version of content if reading level is above 9th grade:

<!-- Additional block with simplified explanation -->
<details>
    <summary>Simplified explanation</summary>
    <p>In simple terms: ...</p>
</details>

3.2.5 Change on Request (AAA) — nothing changes without explicit user action. No automatic redirects, no automatic content updates without request.

3.3.4 Error Prevention (All) (AAA) — for any form submission (not just legal/financial): ability to review, correct, or cancel.

AAA Audit Methodology

AAA audit includes everything from AA plus:

1. Video content — captions, audio description, sign language (if present)
2. Manual testing with users — involve people with various disabilities
3. Cognitive accessibility — text readability check (Flesch-Kincaid, Fog Index)
4. Monochrome display mode test — Windows High Contrast Mode

# Flesch-Kincaid readability for English text
# Online tools: readability-score.com, hemingwayapp.com

When AAA Level is Needed

• Government portals and e-government services
• Medical information systems
• Educational platforms (distance learning)
• Financial services with older audience
• Any service where excluding part of users is inadmissible by law

Audit Timeline