Accessibility in production: preventing regressions

A site that is accessible is not just set-and-forget: it must always remain accessible. 
It is in this phase that we ensure the proper functioning and evolution of the application.  

Because once online, a web platform becomes alive! 

• • • • • Bug fixes and performance improvements.  

• • • • • Functional updates (new features).  

• • • • • Security monitoring (dependency updates, patches).  

• • • • • Technical support and user feedback management.  

Maintaining accessibility after a website has been put into production requires regular monitoring and continuous integration of best practices.

Here are 5 key strategies:

       1. Regular monitoring and audits 

• • • • • Automate checks with tools like axe-core, Lighthouse, or Pa11y CI.  

• • • • • Schedule regular manual testing with screen readers and keyboard navigation.  

• • • • • Conduct accessibility reviews after each update.  

• • • • • Add accessibility testing to CI/CD pipelines to prevent regressions.  

• • • • • Integrate an accessibility checklist into every Agile sprint.  

• • • • • Raise awareness of the importance of complying with WCAG standards from the design stage.  

• • • • • Check that new content (articles, images, videos) meets standards.  

• • • • • Test the accessibility of new features before they are deployed.  

• • • • • Keep up-to-date documentation on best practices.  

• • • • • Set up a feedback form dedicated to accessibility.  

• • • • • Work with people with disabilities to test and improve the experience.  

• • • • • Monitor behavioral analytics for potential issues (e.g., dropout rates on certain routes).  

• • • • • Regularly train web developers, designers and writers on the latest best practices.  

• • • • • Organize accessibility workshops and user testing sessions internally.

The objective is to integrate accessibility into a continuous improvement approach to prevent it from deteriorating as the site evolves. 
 

What’s next? 
 
We would love to help you make your project accessible.  Let's talk about it!