WCAG 2.2 AA Accessibility Compliance

Website Accessibility Audits and Remediation — In-House Assessment Tool

We audit websites against WCAG 2.2 AA standards using our own in-house assessment tool — catching the 70% of real barriers that automated checkers miss. Every barrier identified, every fix implemented. Required by law for public sector bodies. The right thing to do for everyone else.

24/7

Customer Support

200+

Websites Built

2020

Established In Cumbria

WCAG 2.2 accessibility audit report on a red laptop showing AA compliance grade against a Cumbrian village backdrop

Why Generic Accessibility Checkers Are Not Enough

Automated accessibility checkers — Axe, WAVE, Lighthouse — identify approximately 30% of real WCAG 2.2 AA barriers. The remaining 70% require human assessment: keyboard navigation testing, screen reader testing, colour contrast checking across all states, focus indicator visibility, form error message quality, heading structure logic, and ARIA label correctness.

We built our own WCAG 2.2 AA assessment tool because the available tools were insufficient for the standard of compliance we needed to deliver for public sector clients. Our tool combines automated checking with structured human review — producing a report that maps every barrier to the specific fix required and documents the remediation for funding body or regulatory records.

We are also approved .gov.uk domain registrars — handling the full application on behalf of eligible parish and town councils. Our parish and town council website service covers the complete package: WCAG 2.2 AA compliant build, .gov.uk domain, and ongoing accessibility compliance.

What Our Accessibility Assessment Covers

Every criterion assessed — not just the ones automated tools can check.

Colour Contrast Check

All text, interactive elements, icons, and overlaid text assessed for WCAG 2.2 AA contrast ratios. Including text on images, placeholder text, disabled states, and hover states — not just body text on white backgrounds.

Keyboard Navigation

Every function on the site tested for keyboard operability without a mouse. Tab order logical, all interactive elements reachable, no keyboard traps, all functionality available without pointing device.

Focus Indicator Check

Focus indicators visible on every interactive element — links, buttons, form fields, and custom components. WCAG 2.2 introduces enhanced focus indicator requirements that many sites built before 2023 do not meet.

Form Accessibility

Every form field correctly labelled, error messages specific and helpful, required fields identified, input purposes declared for autofill. Form accessibility failures are some of the most impactful barriers for users with disabilities.

Heading Structure

H1/H2/H3 hierarchy correct and logical when read linearly. No missing H1s, no duplicate H1s, no skipped heading levels, no headings used purely for styling. Screen reader users navigate by heading — incorrect structure makes sites unusable.

Alt Text and Images

Every image assessed — informative images described correctly, decorative images marked as decorative, complex images (charts, graphs, infographics) with adequate text alternatives, and image links described by their destination rather than their appearance.

WCAG 2.2 AA — The Legal Requirements for Public Sector Websites

Millom Without Parish Council website showing minutes, agenda and finances sections on a blue laptop against Lake District fell backdrop

The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 require all public sector websites — including parish councils, town councils, schools, NHS bodies, and government agencies — to meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards and publish an accessibility statement. This is a legal requirement with enforcement consequences, not a best practice guideline.

Most public sector websites in Cumbria do not fully meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards. Many were built without proper accessibility assessment, using tools that only catch 30% of real barriers. The remaining failures expose the organisation to formal complaints to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and enforcement action from the Cabinet Office.

We audit existing public sector websites against the full WCAG 2.2 AA standard, produce a complete report of every barrier with remediation guidance, implement the fixes, and provide the accessibility statement text the organisation is required to publish. We also document the remediation process for records — important for organisations that need to demonstrate compliance to funding bodies or regulatory auditors.

For new council and public sector websites we build, WCAG 2.2 AA compliance is included as standard — not a separately charged audit. The assessment is carried out before launch and the accessibility statement is published as part of the build. See our Parish Council Websites page for specific information on council site compliance.

Our In-House Accessibility Assessment Tool

Catches What Others Miss

Our tool combines automated checking with structured human assessment — identifying the 70% of real WCAG 2.2 AA barriers that automated checkers miss. Every barrier found, mapped to its specific fix.

Detailed Remediation Report

Every barrier identified and mapped to the exact fix required. Not a list of issues for you to interpret — a document that tells you or your developer precisely what needs to change on each element.

We Fix, Not Just Report

We implement every fix we identify. An accessibility report that you then have to manage yourself is not a service. We assess, report, and remediate — leaving you with a compliant site.

Compliance Documentation

Full documentation of the assessment and remediation process for organisations that need to demonstrate compliance — for funding body audits, regulatory review, or internal governance records.

Accessibility Compliance — Frequently Asked Questions

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Need a WCAG 2.2 AA Accessibility Audit?

In-house tool. Every barrier found. Every fix implemented. Compliance documentation included.

The Legal Position on Website Accessibility in the UK

The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 require all public sector bodies — including parish councils, town councils, NHS bodies, schools, and government organisations — to meet WCAG 2.1 AA as a minimum standard. Failure to comply is a legal breach, not a best practice gap. The regulations also require a published accessibility statement reviewed annually, and an obligation to respond to accessibility requests within defined timeframes.

Private sector organisations are subject to the Equality Act 2010, which requires businesses to make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to disabled people. Enforcement is complaint-driven rather than proactive audit-driven, but the risk of a discrimination claim from a user who cannot access your online services is real and growing as awareness of digital accessibility rights increases.

WCAG 2.2 AA — the standard we build to — was published in 2023 and includes three new success criteria beyond WCAG 2.1 AA: Focus Appearance (enhanced), Dragging Movements, and Target Size (minimum). Building to 2.2 AA means your site exceeds the current legal minimum and is positioned to remain compliant as standards tighten. Whamos Ltd is one of a very small number of agencies in Cumbria building to this standard as a baseline rather than an optional extra. If you are a public sector organisation not confident your website meets these requirements, we offer a free initial accessibility assessment — no obligation, honest advice about where your site stands and what it would take to achieve compliance.