Frequently asked questions.

About accessibility

• What is WCAG, and why does it matter? +

  WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines — the international standard for accessible digital content, published by the W3C. It's organised around four principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) and covers everything from colour contrast to keyboard navigation to screen reader support.

  WCAG 2.2 AA is the current benchmark. It matters for legal, commercial, and ethical reasons: in the UK and EU, public sector organisations are legally required to meet it, and the European Accessibility Act is extending those obligations to private sector products and services.

• Isn't accessibility just for blind people? +

  Absolutely not. Accessibility covers the full range of human ability — including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive differences. That includes people with dyslexia, ADHD, arthritis, epilepsy, anxiety, and many more conditions that affect how people use digital products.

  It also includes situational impairments — someone using a phone in bright sunlight, a user with a broken arm, or someone in a noisy environment who can't play audio. Good accessibility improves the experience for everyone.

• What's the difference between WCAG A, AA, and AAA? +

  WCAG has three levels of conformance: A (minimum), AA (standard target), and AAA (enhanced). Level A covers the most critical barriers — things like providing alt text for images and ensuring keyboard access. Level AA adds important requirements like contrast ratios, captions for live video, and focus visibility.

  Level AAA covers requirements that can be harder to apply universally — like sign language interpretation for all audio content. Most organisations target AA as their standard, which is also what regulators require.

• What is the European Accessibility Act and does it apply to me? +

  The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is EU legislation that came into force in June 2025. It requires private sector businesses operating in EU member states to make their products and services — including websites, apps, and self-service kiosks — accessible to disabled users.

  It applies broadly: financial services, e-commerce, transport, telecoms, media, and more. If your organisation sells to EU customers or operates in any EU country, it almost certainly applies to you. Post-Brexit, UK organisations serving EU markets need to comply too.

Our services

• How long does an accessibility audit take? +

  It depends on the scope. A focused audit of a single key user journey — say, a checkout flow or a sign-up process — typically takes 5–10 working days. A comprehensive audit of a large product suite can take 4–8 weeks.

  As part of our Kickstarter service, we scope the audit together before we start, so you know exactly what you're getting and how long it'll take.

• Do you just use automated tools, or do you do manual testing? +

  Both, but with a heavy emphasis on manual testing. Automated tools like axe can only catch around 30–40% of WCAG issues — they're great for systematic checks, but they can't tell you whether a screen reader flow actually makes sense, whether focus management feels logical, or whether a form error is genuinely helpful.

  All our audits include testing with real screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack), keyboard-only navigation, and browser zoom testing. Automation supports our work, but it doesn't replace expertise.

• We don't have much budget. Can you still help? +

  Yes. Our Kickstarter tier is specifically designed for organisations who are just starting out or working with limited resources. It's a focused engagement — often a single audit, a prioritised report, and a roadmap — that gives you real clarity on where to start without requiring a large commitment.

  We'd rather help you take one good step in the right direction than overwhelm you with a scope you can't action. Get in touch and we can talk through what's realistic.

• What's A11yShip and is it right for my team? +

  A11yShip is our gamified accessibility experience — a hands-on learning programme designed to build accessibility knowledge across design, development, and content teams. It uses game mechanics to make complex WCAG concepts approachable, memorable, and even enjoyable.

  It works well for teams who've struggled to engage with traditional accessibility training, or for organisations that want to build cultural awareness rather than just technical compliance. It's available as a virtual session, in-person workshop, or as part of a longer capability programme. Find out more about A11yShip.

Working with us

• What does getting started look like? +

  It starts with a conversation. We'll ask you to tell us a bit about your product, your team, your constraints, and what you're trying to achieve. From there, we'll suggest an approach and scope — and if it sounds right, we'll put together a proposal.

  We don't push people towards bigger engagements than they need. If a small focused audit is right, that's what we'll recommend. Fill in the contact form and we'll be in touch within two working days.

• Do you work with teams outside the UK? +

  Yes. We work with clients across Europe and beyond. Most of our engagements can be delivered remotely — screen-sharing sessions, async report delivery, video workshops — so location is rarely a barrier.

  For in-person training (like some A11yShip formats), we can travel to your location or work with you to find a suitable venue.

• Can you help us after the audit — not just report the issues? +

  That's actually our preferred way to work. A report full of issues is only useful if your team knows how to fix them. We offer developer consultancy, design review sessions, and implementation support as part of our Audit & Enablement tier — so we can be hands-on through the remediation process.

  For teams who want ongoing support, our Sustained Maturity tier provides embedded advisory — joining sprint reviews, running quarterly health checks, and being available for questions as new features are built.