Accessibility as a Service: The Future of WCAG Compliance

Accessibility as a Service (AaaS) represents a fundamental shift in how organizations achieve and maintain WCAG compliance. Rather than treating accessibility as a project with a beginning and end, AaaS platforms provide continuous monitoring, automated remediation, and expert support as an ongoing service. This model addresses the reality that accessibility isn't a destination—it's a continuous state requiring constant maintenance.

This guide explores the AaaS model: what it includes, how it differs from traditional approaches, when it makes sense, and how to evaluate AaaS providers for your organization's needs.

Q: What is Accessibility as a Service?

A: Accessibility as a Service (AaaS) delivers WCAG compliance through a subscription model combining automated monitoring, fix generation, expert consultation, and ongoing maintenance. Instead of periodic audits and project-based remediation, AaaS provides continuous compliance management—similar to how SaaS replaced on-premise software for many business functions.

The Shift to Service Models

Why Project-Based Accessibility Fails

Traditional accessibility approaches:

Audit → Fix → Forget cycle:

1. Commission accessibility audit ($15,000-$50,000)
2. Receive report of violations
3. Assign developers to fix issues (weeks/months)
4. Return to normal development
5. Compliance degrades immediately
6. Repeat in 12-18 months

Problems with this approach:

• Compliance is point-in-time, not ongoing
• New violations introduced between audits
• No prevention of new issues
• Expensive repeated audits
• Never actually "done" with accessibility

Result: Organizations spend $50,000+ per cycle while maintaining only intermittent compliance.

The SaaS Precedent

Accessibility follows patterns seen elsewhere:

Security evolved:

• From annual penetration tests
• To continuous security monitoring
• Real-time threat detection
• Automated response

Quality assurance evolved:

• From manual testing phases
• To continuous integration testing
• Automated test suites
• Real-time quality gates

Accessibility is evolving:

• From periodic audits
• To continuous monitoring
• Automated remediation
• Real-time compliance status

What Changed

Several factors enabled AaaS:

AI/ML advancement:

• Better automated detection
• Code fix generation
• Pattern recognition across sites
• Intelligent prioritization

CI/CD integration:

• Accessibility tests in pipelines
• Pre-deployment validation
• Automated blocking of violations
• Shift-left accessibility

Cloud infrastructure:

• Continuous scanning capability
• Real-time monitoring
• Scalable processing
• Cross-platform deployment

Market maturation:

• Legal landscape clarified
• Best practices established
• Tooling ecosystem developed
• Expertise more available

AaaS Components

Continuous Monitoring

What it includes:

• Scheduled automated scanning
• Real-time violation detection
• Change monitoring
• Regression identification

How it works:

Daily scan → New violations detected →
Alert generated → Prioritized by impact →
Fix suggestion created → Assigned for review

Value:

• Issues caught immediately, not at next audit
• Understand compliance status constantly
• Track improvement/degradation trends
• Evidence of ongoing compliance effort

Automated Fix Generation

What it includes:

• Code-level fix suggestions
• One-click fix deployment
• Template-level fixes
• Component library updates

Capabilities:

• Alt text suggestions based on context
• Form label additions
• Contrast adjustments
• Heading structure corrections
• ARIA attribute additions

Limitations (honest assessment):

• Complex widgets need human design
• Custom components may need manual work
• Content quality requires human review
• Some fixes need business context

Expert Consultation

What it includes:

• On-demand accessibility expertise
• Complex issue resolution
• Training and guidance
• Audit review and validation

Access models:

• Hours-based allocation
• Unlimited questions/guidance
• Scheduled consultation calls
• Asynchronous support

Expertise levels:

• IAAP-certified professionals (CPACC, WAS, CPWA)
• Assistive technology specialists
• Legal/compliance advisors
• Developer training capabilities

CI/CD Integration

What it includes:

• Pre-commit accessibility checks
• Pull request validation
• Deployment gates
• Build-time testing

Implementation:

# Example CI/CD integration
accessibility-check:
  stage: test
  script:
    - testparty scan --ci
    - testparty validate --threshold 95
  allow_failure: false

Value:

• Prevents new violations from shipping
• Maintains achieved compliance level
• Shifts accessibility left in development
• Reduces remediation backlog

Compliance Documentation

What it includes:

• VPAT/ACR generation
• Accessibility statement maintenance
• Audit evidence compilation
• Progress reporting

Documentation types:

• Current compliance status reports
• Historical compliance trends
• Issue resolution tracking
• Remediation evidence packages

AaaS vs. Traditional Approaches

Cost Comparison

Traditional audit + remediation:

Year 1:
  Audit: $25,000
  Remediation project: $75,000
  Re-audit: $15,000
  Total: $115,000

Year 2:
  Audit: $25,000
  Remediation: $50,000
  Re-audit: $15,000
  Total: $90,000

Year 3: Similar pattern
Total 3-year: $300,000+

AaaS model:

Year 1:
  Platform subscription: $40,000
  Implementation support: $10,000
  Total: $50,000

Year 2:
  Platform subscription: $40,000
  Total: $40,000

Year 3:
  Platform subscription: $40,000
  Total: $40,000

Total 3-year: $130,000

Savings: 50-60% over traditional approaches

Coverage Comparison

| Aspect            | Traditional           | AaaS        |
|-------------------|-----------------------|-------------|
| Monitoring        | Annual/bi-annual      | Continuous  |
| Detection         | Point-in-time         | Real-time   |
| Fixes             | Project-based         | Ongoing     |
| Prevention        | None                  | CI/CD gates |
| Expertise         | As-needed consultants | Included    |
| Compliance status | Snapshot              | Current     |

Outcomes Comparison

Traditional:

• Compliance achieved briefly after each audit
• Degrades continuously until next audit
• No prevention of new issues
• Reactive to legal threats

AaaS:

• Compliance maintained continuously
• Issues addressed as they arise
• New issues prevented at source
• Proactive compliance management

AaaS Provider Evaluation

Essential Capabilities

Detection quality:

• Coverage of WCAG criteria
• Accuracy (low false positives)
• Support for your tech stack
• Dynamic content handling

Fix quality:

• Source code modifications (not overlays)
• Fix accuracy and completeness
• Developer-friendly implementation
• Testing of fixes

Integration depth:

• CI/CD pipeline support
• Your specific tools (GitHub, GitLab, etc.)
• CMS integrations if relevant
• API availability

Expert access:

• Certification of consultants
• Response time guarantees
• Scope of support included
• Training offerings

Questions to Ask

Technical:

1. How do you handle single-page applications?
2. What's your false positive rate?
3. Can you demonstrate fix quality with examples?
4. How do you integrate with our CI/CD pipeline?
5. What happens to fixes when our code changes?

Service:

1. What certifications do your experts hold?
2. What's included in expert consultation?
3. How quickly do you respond to issues?
4. What training is provided?
5. How do you handle complex custom components?

Business:

1. What's the total cost of ownership?
2. How do contracts work (term, cancellation)?
3. What's your compliance guarantee?
4. How do you handle scope changes?
5. What evidence do you provide for legal purposes?

Red Flags

Avoid providers that:

• Promise "instant" or "automatic" compliance
• Use overlay/widget approaches
• Can't provide fix examples
• Won't share detection methodology
• Have vague expert availability
• Require long-term lock-in with penalty
• Can't integrate with your development workflow

AaaS Implementation

Preparation Phase

Technical preparation:

1. Inventory all web properties to monitor
2. Identify technology stack components
3. Map CI/CD pipeline touchpoints
4. Establish baseline compliance status

Organizational preparation:

1. Identify stakeholders and owners
2. Define success metrics
3. Establish escalation paths
4. Plan training needs

Onboarding Phase

Typical timeline: 2-4 weeks

Week 1:

• Platform configuration
• Initial full scan
• Baseline report generation
• Priority issue identification

Week 2:

• CI/CD integration setup
• Automated fix implementation
• Developer training session
• Workflow establishment

Week 3-4:

• Complex issue consultation
• Process refinement
• Documentation setup
• Ongoing monitoring activation

Steady-State Operations

Daily:

• Automated monitoring runs
• New issues flagged
• Fix suggestions generated
• CI/CD gates enforced

Weekly:

• Compliance status review
• Fix implementation batch
• Trend analysis
• Priority adjustment

Monthly:

• Comprehensive progress report
• Expert consultation (as needed)
• Process optimization
• Training updates

Quarterly:

• Full compliance assessment
• Documentation updates
• Contract/scope review
• Strategic planning

TestParty's AaaS Model

TestParty exemplifies the AaaS approach:

Continuous monitoring:

• Daily automated scanning
• Real-time violation detection
• Change monitoring
• Regression alerts

Automated remediation:

• AI-generated fix code
• Source-level modifications
• Template propagation
• One-click implementation

Expert support:

• CPACC-certified team
• Complex issue resolution
• Training and guidance
• VPAT/ACR assistance

CI/CD integration (Bouncer):

• GitHub/GitLab integration
• Pre-merge accessibility gates
• Deployment blocking
• Compliance maintenance

Platform capabilities:

• Website and web app support
• E-commerce (Shopify) specialization
• PDF accessibility
• Multi-property management

Use Cases

E-Commerce

Challenge: High-velocity product and content changes create continuous accessibility risk.

AaaS solution:

• Monitor product page templates
• Auto-fix alt text for new images
• Gate checkout changes on accessibility
• Maintain compliance through seasonal updates

Outcome: Continuous compliance through high-change periods without dedicated accessibility staff.

SaaS Platforms

Challenge: Frequent releases need accessibility validation without slowing development.

AaaS solution:

• CI/CD gates prevent regressions
• Automated testing on each PR
• Expert review for new features
• Continuous monitoring of production

Outcome: Accessibility integrated into development velocity, not fighting against it.

Enterprise Portfolios

Challenge: Multiple properties with varying compliance states and technologies.

AaaS solution:

• Centralized monitoring dashboard
• Prioritization across properties
• Consistent remediation approach
• Unified compliance reporting

Outcome: Portfolio-wide compliance visibility with efficient resource allocation.

Agencies

Challenge: Multiple client sites requiring accessibility management.

AaaS solution:

• White-label client portals
• Per-client compliance tracking
• Scalable expert support
• Efficient multi-site management

Outcome: Accessibility service offering without building internal team.

FAQ Section

Q: How does AaaS differ from overlay widgets?

A: Fundamentally different. AaaS modifies source code for permanent accessibility fixes, integrates with development processes, and uses human experts for complex issues. Overlays apply runtime patches that don't actually achieve compliance. AaaS fixes problems; overlays mask them.

Q: What if we need to switch AaaS providers?

A: Since AaaS fixes modify your actual code, the accessibility improvements remain yours. You're not locked to the provider for functionality—unlike overlays that stop working when removed. Switching providers means losing monitoring and support, not losing your fixes.

Q: Can AaaS replace our accessibility team?

A: AaaS can reduce the need for dedicated accessibility staff, but someone must own accessibility internally. For organizations without accessibility expertise, AaaS provides that capability. For those with teams, AaaS augments capacity and handles routine work so experts focus on complex issues.

Q: What compliance level can AaaS achieve?

A: Quality AaaS providers help achieve and maintain WCAG 2.2 AA compliance—the legal standard for most requirements. AAA compliance requires additional effort beyond what automation can provide. Be wary of any provider promising 100% compliance without nuance.

Q: Is AaaS cost-effective for small organizations?

A: AaaS pricing varies by site size and complexity. For small organizations, the cost may exceed what they'd spend on periodic audits, but the continuous compliance and legal protection may justify the investment. Evaluate based on your risk profile and compliance needs.

Key Takeaways

• Accessibility requires continuous effort: The audit-fix-forget cycle never achieved lasting compliance; AaaS addresses accessibility as ongoing reality.

• Source code fixes are essential: AaaS that modifies actual code provides permanent improvements unlike overlay approaches.

• CI/CD integration prevents regression: The key to maintaining compliance is preventing new issues, which requires development process integration.

• Expert access remains necessary: Automation handles routine issues, but complex accessibility problems require human expertise—AaaS should include both.

• Total cost of ownership favors AaaS: When comparing full-cycle costs including monitoring, remediation, and re-audits, AaaS typically costs 50-60% less than traditional approaches.

• The model is proven: Organizations across industries have demonstrated that AaaS can achieve and maintain WCAG compliance more effectively than project-based approaches.

Conclusion

Accessibility as a Service represents the maturation of accessibility from periodic project to continuous process. Just as security, quality assurance, and IT infrastructure evolved to service models, accessibility benefits from the same transition: continuous monitoring, automated remediation, expert support, and development integration.

For organizations struggling with the audit-fix-degrade cycle, AaaS offers a sustainable path to compliance. For those without accessibility expertise, AaaS provides capability they couldn't build internally. For high-velocity development teams, AaaS integrates accessibility into workflows rather than fighting against them.

The question isn't whether your organization needs accessibility compliance—legal, ethical, and business factors make that clear. The question is whether you'll achieve it through an outdated project model that never quite works, or through a service model designed for how accessibility actually functions.

Ready to explore Accessibility as a Service? Schedule a TestParty demo to see how AaaS can transform your approach to WCAG compliance.

Related Articles:

• Why Most Accessibility Audits Fail: The Case for Continuous Monitoring
• Accessibility ROI: Building the Business Case for WCAG Compliance
• CI/CD Accessibility Integration: Shift-Left Testing Guide

Honesty first: AI helped write this. Our accessibility team reviewed it. This isn't legal advice. For real compliance guidance, talk to professionals who know your business.