Making a Site Accessible: Where to Start?
106 RGAA criteria. That number alone can be paralyzing. I've seen entire teams freeze up when they first open the audit checklist. Don't worry -- it's easier than it sounds when you break it down. Here's the trick I use: tackle it in layers, starting with the quick wins.
Step 1: Initial Audit
Before you fix anything, you need to know where you stand. Run an automated scan with RGAA Test (rgaa-test.fr) -- it takes a few minutes and gives you a clear snapshot. Automated tools catch about 30-40% of issues, which is a solid starting point. Then roll up your sleeves for manual checks: unplug your mouse and try keyboard navigation, fire up NVDA or VoiceOver, zoom to 200%, disable CSS. You'll be surprised what you find.
Step 2: Fix the Basics (Level A)
Start with the low-hanging fruit. Add descriptive alt text to informative images, empty alt="" on decorative ones. Check your contrast ratios (4.5:1 minimum for normal text -- that light gray on white probably doesn't pass). Set up proper heading hierarchy, add HTML5 landmarks, make sure every form field has a visible label. Here's a trick I use: the placeholder is NOT a label. I've taught this to hundreds of devs and the lightbulb moment is always the same.
Step 3: Deepen (Level AA)
Basics done? Nice. Now go deeper: synchronized video subtitles (no, YouTube auto-captions don't count), 200% zoom support without breaking layout, visible focus indicators on every interactive element, and descriptive link text. "Click here" tells nobody anything.
Step 4: Test and Validate
Re-run your RGAA Test audit and compare with your initial results -- you should see real improvement. Test critical user journeys with a screen reader. If you can involve users with disabilities, their feedback is invaluable.
Step 5: Publish and Maintain
Publish your accessibility statement (it's a legal requirement), set up a feedback mechanism, and train your content contributors. Accessibility isn't a checkbox you tick once -- it's an ongoing commitment.
Accessibility is a marathon, not a sprint. Every new piece of content needs to meet RGAA standards. But you're already on the right track by reading this.