--- url: 'https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit/accessibility' title: 'Drupal Accessibility Audit for EAA & WCAG 2.1' author: name: 'Jorge Tutor' url: 'https://metadrop.net/es/sobre/jorge-tutor' date: '2025-03-18T09:25:12+00:00' updated: '2026-07-21T10:22:28+00:00' type: article summary: 'WCAG 2.1 & EAA accessibility audits for Drupal. Get a severity-ranked report with fix-effort estimates and expert help to reach compliance. Book your audit.' image: 'https://metadrop.net/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2025-03/European-Accessibility-Act.webp?itok=GpUHa5W4' published: true og: determiner: Automatic site_name: Metadrop street_address: 'Calle Manuel Luna, 12, 3 Dcha' locality: Madrid region: Madrid postal_code: '28020' country_name: España email: hola@metadrop.net phone_number: '910053180' schema: '@context': 'https://schema.org' '@graph': - '@type': Organization '@id': 'https://metadrop.net/#organization' url: 'https://metadrop.net/' name: Metadrop sameAs: - 'https://www.drupal.org/metadrop' - 'https://twitter.com/metadrop' - 'https://asociaciondrupal.es/partner/metadrop' - 'https://www.linkedin.com/company/metadrop' logo: '@type': ImageObject url: 'https://metadrop.net/themes/custom/mdrop_radix/logo-metadrop-500-500.jpg' width: '500' height: '500' - '@type': ItemPage '@id': 'https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit/accessibility' breadcrumb: '@type': BreadcrumbList itemListElement: - '@type': ListItem position: 1 name: Home item: 'https://metadrop.net/en' - '@type': ListItem position: 2 name: 'Digital Consultancy, Development and Support' item: 'https://metadrop.net/en/services' - '@type': ListItem position: 3 name: 'Drupal Audit Services' item: 'https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit' publisher: '@type': Organization '@id': 'https://metadrop.net/#organization' --- 1. [Digital Consultancy, Development and Support](https://metadrop.net/en/services) 2. [Drupal Audit Services](https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit) # Drupal accessibility audit for EAA & WCAG 2.1 compliance For **EU organizations running Drupal** that must meet the **European Accessibility Act (EAA)**, Metadrop runs an independent Drupal accessibility audit that maps every **WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549** barrier and hands back a **prioritized, effort-estimated fix plan**, with our team on hand to implement it. [Request your audit](#contact)[Explore](#scroll-to-content) ## What a Drupal accessibility audit is An **accessibility audit** is a structured evaluation of a website against **WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549**. It identifies every barrier that blocks people with disabilities and grades each one by severity and the effort needed to fix it. A Drupal accessibility audit adds **CMS-specific depth**. It inspects how themes, *Layout Builder* regions, *WYSIWYG* output and contrib modules render in real browsers and assistive technology, not only in the static markup. Our approach pairs **automated tooling** with expert **manual and assistive-technology testing**, because automated scans on their own catch only around 20 to 30 percent of issues. You receive a prioritized report in which each issue comes with a location, a severity rating, fix guidance and an estimated effort. The engagement covers the **full lifecycle**. We audit, advise, and carry out hands-on remediation to reach the conformance level you need, rather than handing over a diagnostic and walking away. Facing an EAA compliance review? We scope your audit to the exact standard and national framework that applies to you, then hand back a plan you can act on. [Book your audit](#contact) ## Why accessibility matters beyond the law Accessibility is more than a legal obligation. Over **100 million people in Europe** live with a disability and depend on digital services they can actually use. It also shapes how your organization is seen. Accessibility signals **inclusivity** to customers, investors and stakeholders, and it supports your ESG commitments. It widens your reach too: an accessible site serves people with disabilities, elderly users and anyone with a temporary impairment, a **wider addressable audience** than most teams assume. There is a technical dividend as well. The same semantic structure, alt text and clear navigation that help assistive technology also **improve organic ranking**. Fixing barriers early is cheaper than the redesigns and legal exposure that come from leaving them in place. ## What your audit delivers Every audit opens with an **executive summary** that gives non-technical stakeholders a high-level view of your conformance status. Beneath it sits the full **conformance assessment**: a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of your WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549 results. From there you get a **prioritized issue list**. Every non-compliant element is recorded with its severity, its location and an **estimated remediation effort**, so your team knows what to fix first and roughly what it will take. The recommendations are practical, with **code snippets and visual examples** written for both developers and content editors. We also support the compliance paperwork, helping you produce **VPATs, Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) and the legally required Accessibility Statement**. The report is the **blueprint for remediation**, not the end of the engagement. ## How we run your audit We follow the **WCAG-EM methodology**, the W3C's Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology, which runs in five steps: 1. ### Define the scope The pages, components and applications under evaluation. 2. ### Explore the site Its navigation, structure and functionality. 3. ### Select a representative sample The critical pages and user journeys. 4. ### Conduct the audit Automated testing alongside manual and assistive-tech checks. 5. ### Report findings Prioritized, effort-estimated documentation. For fast detection we run **automated tooling**: Pa11y, axe, WAVE, Silktide, IBM Equal Access and Lighthouse. These quickly surface contrast, alt-text and heading-structure defects. Automated scans miss most barriers, so the bulk of the value comes from **manual and assistive-technology testing**. We test with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, Orca), navigate the site using the **keyboard alone**, and check colour contrast by hand. ## Drupal-specific accessibility traps we check ### Layout Builder Layout Builder regions can produce broken heading order or non-semantic block wrappers. ### WYSIWYG and CKEditor Editor content is where empty headings, missing alt text or meaning carried by colour alone slip in. ### Contrib and custom modules Often render inaccessible widgets, forms and interactive components. ### Theme level We check focus states, ARIA landmarks, form labels and touch-target sizing in the active theme. ### Editor-facing safeguards Accessible content tooling that helps your editors keep the site compliant long after launch. Metadrop has contributed accessibility modules back to the Drupal community, including Accessible Form Validation, Content First and Entity Mesh. ## Audit Reports Whether you choose a **consultancy**, an **audit**, or both, you will receive a **report with clear, actionable recommendations and estimated efforts** tailored to your specific goals. The consultancy helps define priorities and scope, while the full audit offers deeper analysis and a comprehensive plan to drive improvements in the key areas of your Drupal sites. ## Beyond the audit: remediation, monitoring & training An audit only matters if the fixes get made, so our development and content teams **implement the remediation** needed to reach your target conformance level. To keep you there, we add **ongoing monitoring and re-testing**: continuous accessibility checks in CI with Pa11y-CI and Unlighthouse, so regressions are caught as new content and code ship. Before you publish a statement, a **re-audit and validation** pass confirms compliance. We also invest in your team, with developer training on accessible code, guidance for content editors and tailored workshops. Ongoing accessibility governance pairs naturally with [Drupal maintenance & support](https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal/maintenance). Ready to reach full compliance? From audit to fixed and verified, one team scopes, audits, remediates and documents your Drupal accessibility. [Request your audit quote](#contact) ## Why Metadrop Metadrop brings **15+ years of Drupal expertise** and holds **Drupal Silver Certified Partner** status. Our compliance track record spans **ENS, GDPR, WCAG and NIS2**, with work delivered in **50+ countries and 30+ languages**. We work as an **independent technical governance** partner that both audits your platform and fixes it. The guidance on this page draws on our own published analysis of surviving the European Accessibility Act and the new legal era for public- and private-sector accessibility. That experience is concrete. We migrated a **multinational building-materials manufacturer** through an RGAA audit and 106-criteria remediation to reach conformity in France, contributing accessibility modules back to Drupal along the way. For a **gluten-free food manufacturer** we deliver ongoing WCAG 2.1 remediation across heading hierarchy, ARIA, contrast and keyboard navigation, with continuous auditing via Pa11y-CI and Unlighthouse. We audited a **multinational chemicals and materials manufacturer's** corporate site against WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549 on a 23-page representative sample, and assessed an **enterprise intranet behind SSO** on a 13-page sample for internal navigation, landmarks and content structure. Public-sector and university platforms, including a regional ombudsman, have been brought to **WCAG AA**. ## They've Trusted Metadrop From manufacturing and public administration to universities and NGOs, organizations across Europe have relied on Metadrop for WCAG and EAA accessibility work. Pause logos Play logos > The Metadrop team focused on Standardization and Accessibility, ensuring our design system serves all employees, including those with different needs. I particularly valued their Modular approach, which allows us to update the platform incrementally rather than facing a disruptive overhaul. Aurélie Charlier Change & Employee Communications Director > Their commitment to excellence extends to every detail of our platform, ensuring strict GDPR compliance and maintaining world-class accessibility standards. They ensure our digital presence is inclusive, modern, and legally sound. Vicent Bastide Group Digital & e-Reputation Director > Metadrop has been a key contributor to the modernisation of our municipal web services. Their understanding of the specific needs of local government and their ability to implement accessible and efficient solutions have significantly improved communication with our citizens. We would like to highlight their professionalism and commitment to meeting deadlines, which are essential when working with a public entity. Asier Aranburu IT Director ## Frequently asked questions - ### What is a Drupal accessibility audit? It is a structured evaluation of a Drupal site against **WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549**. It combines automated scans with manual and assistive-technology testing, and returns a prioritized, effort-estimated remediation plan. - ### How long does an accessibility audit take? Most audits take **one to three weeks**, depending on the size of the site and the representative sample. The scope is agreed up front in the WCAG-EM define-scope step. - ### How much does an accessibility audit cost? Cost scales with **site size, sample size and the target standard**, whether that is WCAG 2.1 AA or a national framework. After a free consultation we provide a **fixed, scoped quote**, with no open-ended billing. - ### What is the difference between WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2? **WCAG 2.1 AA** is the current **legal baseline** referenced by EN 301 549 and the EAA. **WCAG 2.2 AA** adds newer success criteria covering focus, target size and authentication; it is a **design-beyond** target rather than the current legal requirement. - ### What is EN 301 549? It is the **harmonized EU standard** for ICT accessibility. It references **WCAG 2.1 AA** as its web technical requirement and is the reference standard for EAA conformance. - ### Does the EAA apply to companies outside the EU? **Yes.** Any business selling products or services into the EU market is in scope, wherever it is based. Microenterprises delivering services (fewer than 10 staff and under €2M turnover) are broadly exempt. - ### Can automated tools alone confirm accessibility? **No.** Automated scanners detect only about **20 to 30 percent** of WCAG issues. Full conformance requires **manual and assistive-technology testing** by specialists. - ### How do I make my Drupal site WCAG compliant? Start with an **audit** to establish your baseline and priorities. Remediate the theme, Layout Builder, WYSIWYG and module issues, then **re-test**. Finally, add CI monitoring and editor tooling to prevent regressions. ## Request your accessibility audit Tell us about your Drupal platform and the standard you need to meet, and we will reply within one business day with next steps and a scoped quote. The consultation is free and carries no commitment; your details are used only to prepare your audit and are covered by our privacy policy. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Name Email Organization Tell us more Escribe tu mensaje aquí... Privacy policy I have read and accepted the [privacy policy](https://metadrop.net/en/privacy-policy) regarding data processing. Leave this field blank ## Drupal Audit Services Comprehensive Web Audits: Accessibility SEO/GEO, Security, UX/UI, Performance - [**Drupal GEO & AEO audit**](https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit/geo-aeo-audit "Bot-by-bot review of AI crawler access, structured data and answer readiness on your Drupal platform.") Bot-by-bot review of AI crawler access, structured data and answer readiness on your Drupal platform. - [**Drupal Performance audit**](https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit/performance "Diagnose slow response times, cache misconfiguration and load limits on your Drupal platform, with a prioritised fix roadmap.") Diagnose slow response times, cache misconfiguration and load limits on your Drupal platform, with a prioritised fix roadmap. - [**Drupal SEO Audit**](https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit/drupal-seo-audit "Uncover the crawl, indexation, schema, and Core Web Vitals issues holding back your Drupal site's search rankings.") Uncover the crawl, indexation, schema, and Core Web Vitals issues holding back your Drupal site's search rankings. - [**Drupal Security audit**](https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit/security "An independent Drupal security review: access control, dependencies, headers, secrets and edge protection, with a prioritized remediation plan.") An independent Drupal security review: access control, dependencies, headers, secrets and edge protection, with a prioritized remediation plan. - [**Drupal UX/UI Audit**](https://metadrop.net/en/services/drupal-audit/ux-ui "Independent UX and UI audit identifying friction points, usability gaps, and actionable improvements for your Drupal platform.") Independent UX and UI audit identifying friction points, usability gaps, and actionable improvements for your Drupal platform.