What to look for in an accessibility site audit

An accessibility improvement works best when it responds to how people actually arrive, move through a building and use its facilities. A site audit makes those everyday journeys visible before products or construction are selected.

Start with the visit people need to make: from the street or drop-off point, through the entrance, to reception and the destination. Note where the route changes, narrows, rises or becomes difficult to understand.

Walk the whole route

Record the existing conditions at each transition, not only the main doorway. Useful observations can include steps, thresholds, surface changes, ramps, lifts, door operation and places where a wheelchair user needs to turn or pause.

Look for the same everyday route from the perspective of a visitor who is blind or has low vision, a person using a mobility aid, and someone who benefits from clear, readable signs. The goal is to document actual barriers and confusing transitions.

Check facilities and communication

If the visit includes reception, a washroom, a service counter, a meeting room or a lift, assess how each is approached and used. Wayfinding, information at the point of service and staff procedures are part of the experience too.

Turn observations into a plan

Separate immediate operational changes from physical modifications and longer-term work. Record dependencies such as available space, the route people must preserve during installation, and who will review the proposed solution before it is ordered.

• Map the route from arrival to the intended destination.
• Photograph and measure barriers at their location.
• Include entrances, internal circulation and the facilities people need.
• Set priorities with the people who use and operate the space.
• Agree on installation, inspection and handover responsibilities.

Accessibility audits are an important planning input; a single walkthrough does not itself establish that a building meets every applicable requirement. Project teams should verify the relevant standards and approvals for their site.