Accessibility can feel like a complex topic. With guidelines, standards and technical requirements to consider, it can be difficult to know where to start.
The good news is that you don’t need to be an accessibility expert to identify some of the most common issues on your website. There are several simple checks that content editors, communications teams and website administrators can perform themselves.
While these checks won’t replace a professional accessibility audit, they can help uncover issues that may be making it harder for residents to access information and services online.
Here are five accessibility checks you can perform today.
1. Test your colour contrast
Colour contrast refers to the difference between the colour of the text and the colour behind it. When contrast is too low, content can become difficult to read for people with low vision, colour blindness or even those viewing a screen outdoors in bright sunlight.
What to test
Review pages that use coloured backgrounds and check:
- Body text
- Buttons and calls to action
- Navigation menus
- Form labels and error messages
Tools to use
Silktide Accessibility Checker
The Silktide free accessibility checker can identify colour contrast issues directly on your page and explain why they don’t meet accessibility standards.
What good looks like
Most standard text should achieve a contrast of at least 4.5:1 to meet WCAG 2.2 AA requirements.
2. Navigate your website using only a keyboard
Not everyone uses a mouse to browse the web. Many users rely on keyboards or assistive technologies to move through websites and complete tasks.
A simple way to test this is to put your mouse aside and navigate your website using only your keyboard.
What to test
Use:
- Tab
- Shift + Tab
- Enter
- Spacebar
Try navigating key pages such as:
- Your homepage
- Main navigation
- Search functionality
- Online forms
- Service pages
Things to look for
- Can you access every link, button and form field?
- Is it always clear which element is selected?
- Does the navigation follow a logical order?
- Can dropdown menus be opened and used?
Common issues
Many websites have navigation menus or interactive elements that work perfectly with a mouse but become difficult or impossible to use with a keyboard.
3. Check whether images have alternative text
Alternative text (alt text) provides a description of an image for people using screen readers. Without it, users may miss important information or context.
What to test
Review:
- News articles
- Event pages
- Service information pages
- Homepage banners and promotional content
Tools to use
Silktide Accessibility Checker
The Silktide accessibility checker can quickly identify images that are missing alt text and highlight other image-related accessibility issues.
What good looks like
Images that communicate information should include meaningful descriptions. Decorative images should be marked appropriately so they can be ignored by screen readers.
Some modern CMS platforms can help improve compliance by making alt text mandatory when images are uploaded. Some systems also include AI-powered tools to generate alt text suggestions, reducing the effort required for content authors. For example, Xperience by Kentico's AI assistant, AIRA, can automatically generate alt text, and developers can configure the CMS to require alt text before content is published.
Common issue
Images are often uploaded without alt text, particularly in news articles and content-heavy sections of local government websites.
4. Zoom your browser to 200%
Many users with low vision enlarge website content to make it easier to read. Accessibility guidelines require websites to remain functional when zoomed in.
What to test
Increase your browser zoom level to 200% and browse several key pages.
Things to look for
- Does text remain readable?
- Does content overlap or disappear?
- Are menus still accessible?
- Can forms still be completed?
How to do it
Most browsers allow zooming using:
- Windows: Ctrl + +
- Mac: Command + +
Common issue
Text scales correctly, but navigation, buttons or page layouts break, making it difficult to access content.
5. Run a quick accessibility scan
Manual testing is important, but automated tools can help identify common issues quickly and efficiently.
Tools to use
Silktide Accessibility Checker
Once installed, the extension can scan individual pages and provide clear explanations of accessibility issues and recommendations for improvement.
What it can identify
- Missing alt text
- Colour contrast issues
- Missing form labels
- Heading structure problems
- Accessibility best-practice issues
Important note
Automated testing can only identify some accessibility issues. Human testing remains an important part of ensuring your website is accessible to all users.
Get started with the free Silktide accessibility checker
If you’re unsure where to begin, download the free Silktide accessibility checker browser extension and test a few of your most visited pages.
For local governments, we recommend starting with:
- Your homepage
- Contact page
- Online forms
- Waste and recycling information
- Rates pages
- Emergency and community information
These pages often receive the highest levels of traffic and have the greatest impact on residents.
Accessibility is an ongoing process
Accessibility isn’t something that can be completed once and forgotten. Content changes, new functionality is added and websites evolve over time.
Regularly performing simple checks like these can help identify issues early and improve the experience for all users.
If you’d like help conducting a more thorough accessibility audit, understanding your compliance obligations or fixing accessibility issues you’ve identified, we’d be happy to help. Get in touch with our team to discuss your website and accessibility needs.
