Understanding Your ADA Score
A comprehensive guide to interpreting your accessibility compliance score and taking action to improve your website's accessibility.
What is the ADA Score?
Your ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Score is a numerical representation of your website's accessibility compliance, ranging from 0 to 100. This score is calculated based on automated accessibility testing that follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards.
Krylos uses industry-standard accessibility testing tools combined with AI-powered analysis to identify violations and provide actionable recommendations for improvement. A higher score indicates better accessibility compliance.
Score Ranges & What They Mean
90-100: Excellent
Target RangeYour website demonstrates strong accessibility compliance with minimal violations. Most content is accessible to users with disabilities, though manual testing is still recommended for complete WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
70-89: Good
Your website has good accessibility foundations but has some violations that should be addressed. Most users with disabilities can navigate your site, but improvements are needed for full compliance.
50-69: Fair
Your website has significant accessibility barriers that prevent many users with disabilities from accessing content effectively. Immediate action is recommended to improve compliance.
0-49: Needs Improvement
Your website has critical accessibility issues that create major barriers for users with disabilities. This may expose your organization to legal risk and prevents a significant portion of users from accessing your content.
How is the Score Calculated?
Krylos calculates your ADA score using a weighted penalty system based on the severity and frequency of accessibility violations:
Violation Severity Weights
Calculation Formula
The score starts at 100 and deducts points based on violations found across all scanned pages. The penalty is adjusted using a logarithmic scale that accounts for violations per page, preventing the score from going negative while maintaining sensitivity to issue frequency.
Score = max(0, min(100, 100 - penalty_factor))
WCAG 2.1 Standards Reference
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 are organized around four core principles, often abbreviated as POUR:
Perceivable
Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
- Text alternatives for images
- Captions for audio/video
- Adaptable content structure
- Sufficient color contrast
Operable
User interface components and navigation must be operable by all users.
- Keyboard accessibility
- Sufficient time to interact
- No seizure-inducing content
- Clear navigation paths
Understandable
Information and operation of the user interface must be understandable.
- Readable text content
- Predictable functionality
- Input assistance and error prevention
- Clear instructions
Robust
Content must be robust enough to work with current and future technologies.
- Valid HTML markup
- Proper ARIA usage
- Compatible with assistive technologies
- Future-proof implementation
Note: Krylos scans for WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA compliance. For complete accessibility assurance, manual testing and user testing with people who have disabilities is recommended.
Taking Action to Improve Your Score
Review Your Scan Results
Examine the detailed recommendations provided for each page. Krylos identifies specific HTML elements, provides code fixes, and estimates the effort required for each fix.
Prioritize Critical Issues
Start with critical and serious violations as they have the biggest impact on accessibility and your score. These often include missing alt text, insufficient color contrast, and keyboard navigation issues.
Implement Fixes
Use the code fixes and recommendations provided by Krylos to update your website. Each recommendation includes specific HTML examples and implementation guidance.
Re-scan and Monitor
After implementing fixes, run another scan to verify improvements and track your progress. Regular scanning helps maintain compliance as your site evolves.