WCAG 2.1 Workshop Eliminated 350+ Accessibility Bugs

The British company I worked for was subject to the Equality Act 2010, which mandates ensuring the accessibility of digital products. However, despite the legal requirements, accessibility was not integrated into the processes: the website contained dozens of barriers, and inclusion was perceived as a "nice bonus" rather than a part of high-quality UX.

Problem

During my first weeks of work, I noticed that:

• users with visual impairments could not navigate using the keyboard;

• screen readers were confused by the page structure;

• design system components did not comply with WCAG 2.1 AA;

• the team had no testing processes or basic understanding of accessibility.

The company understood the legal risks but had no clear vision of how to approach accessibility practically.

Since I had just completed the Inclusive Web Design course at Projector, I decided to initiate the changes.

Research and Preparation

I conducted an express audit of 12 key product pages. At this stage, I:

• gathered typical errors according to WCAG 2.1 AA;

• assessed the impact of each error on the real user experience;

• prepared educational material for the team — what accessibility is, why it is important, and why it is not "about people with disabilities," but about a high-quality experience for everyone.

Educational Workshop: Launching Changes

I conducted a 1.5-hour workshop for the product, development, and design teams, where we analyzed:

• Laws and standards: Equality Act 2010, WCAG 2.1 AA, and the POUR principles;

• Real-life examples of barriers on our website and how they complicate usage;

• Common error patterns and their impact on users;

• How to integrate accessibility into the design system and development processes.

This workshop became a turning point: following the session, I was invited to join the team preparing for an external accessibility audit.

External Audit: Diagnosing the Scale

The company invited certified accessibility experts for an official review. The result was shocking but honest:

• 350+ errors according to WCAG 2.1 AA;

• Over 50% were critical, making it impossible to use the website;

• Major failures: keyboard navigation, ARIA attributes, heading structure, and color contrasts;

• Design system components were unpredictable for assistive technologies.

The audit served as an objective starting point for change and gave the company an understanding of the scale of the problems.

Anastasiia Savushkina

WCAGENTS Expert

Accessible Website, Confident Business

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