For Community Action Agencies (CAAs) dedicated to serving diverse populations, providing equal access to information and public resources is a core mission requirement. With new federal regulations mandating that CAA websites meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards, many agency leaders find themselves facing an unfamiliar digital landscape. Achieving true digital accessibility can feel daunting at first, but understanding the steps involved makes the process clear, structured, and achievable.
A Simple First Step – Run an Automated Scan
If you’ve never checked your site for accessibility standards previously, a simple first step is to use an automated tool to scan one or more of your sites pages to see whether or not it contains fundamental accessibility issues such as poor color contrast, incorrect heading structure, missing alt text, ARIA, or form field labels. While this is no substitute for a formal evaluation, it can help you quickly identify any common problems.
There are many automated accessibility scanners available, such as the free WAVE Website Accessibility Evaluation Tool. Available both as a web-based tool and a browser extension, WAVE is easy to use by simply entering your website’s URL to get a report of common errors and warnings. If it is not clear what they mean, your web developer or an accessibility specialist can help you evaluate further.
Assessing the Landscape: Why Automated Tools & Widgets Aren’t Enough
The journey towards accessibility begins with a thorough baseline evaluation. While automated scanning software can quickly flag basic technical issues and can be a good place to start, these tools catch only a fraction of potential barriers. Achieving formal WCAG 2.1 AA compliance requires a dual-approach assessment—combining automated scanning with expert manual testing from an accessibility specialist who can evaluate complex interactions like keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and color contrast context. Automated tools and quick-fix “overlay” widgets simply cannot evaluate or remediate the full scope of WCAG criteria on their own, making a hands-on, coordinated effort essential.
To better understand the full spectrum of accessibility practices, we have published the following article that discusses the Accessibility Continuum: From Foundational Baselines to Formal WCAG Conformance.
Remediation and Ongoing Maintenance
Once an assessment identifies existing barriers, the next step is creating and executing a tailored remediation plan. This stage requires a skilled web developer familiar with digital accessibility best practices to update code, adjust structural headings, optimize ARIA labels, and refine interactive elements across the site.
Because websites are dynamic and regularly updated with new content, news, and resources, compliance isn’t a one-time fix. Establishing an ongoing maintenance plan is vital to ensure that as your site grows, it remains welcoming and accessible to everyone.
Accessibility as a Sustainable Journey
While navigating web accessibility requirements may initially seem overwhelming, it is helpful to remember that accessibility is best approached as a journey rather than a single destination, and that accessibility also comes with a number of benefits. By breaking the process down into manageable, sequential steps—from evaluation and developer remediation to long-term maintenance—your organization can build a sustainable path forward that opens digital doors for the entire community.
Need Help?
Whether you’re looking for some general guidance or hands-on assistance with your organization’s accessibility efforts, we’re happy to help. As a starting point, we can perform a complimentary assessment to help you better understand what might be needed in your agency’s path to WCAG compliance. Simply use the form below to send an inquiry and we’ll follow-up.