Setting up scheduled accessibility scans involves selecting which pages to scan, choosing a scan frequency, and configuring how results are delivered. Most scanning tools offer a scheduling feature that runs automated checks on a recurring basis without requiring someone to initiate each scan manually.
| Key Point | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Page Selection | Choose specific URLs, sitemaps, or URL patterns to define scan scope |
| Frequency Options | Daily, weekly, monthly, or custom intervals depending on the tool |
| Authenticated Pages | Pages behind logins require a browser extension running within an active session |
| Coverage Limitation | Scans only flag approximately 25% of accessibility issues; the rest requires human evaluation |
Choosing Which Pages to Scan on a Schedule
Not every page on a site changes at the same rate. A homepage, product pages, and checkout flows may update weekly, while an “About Us” page stays static for months. Prioritize pages that change frequently or carry the highest user traffic.
Most tools accept a sitemap URL, a list of individual URLs, or URL pattern rules. Start with pages that represent the most common user paths through the site.
Selecting a Scan Frequency
The right frequency depends on how often site content changes. A marketing site with weekly blog posts may benefit from weekly scans. A web application with daily code deployments may need daily scans.
Running scans too infrequently means new issues go undetected between cycles. Running them too often on a static site generates identical reports with no new information. Match the scan cadence to the pace of change on the site.
Configuring Scans for Authenticated Pages
Many accessibility issues live behind login screens: dashboards, account settings, internal tools. Standard scanning cannot reach these pages because the scanner has no credentials.
Scanning authenticated pages typically requires a browser extension that runs within an active session. The extension evaluates the page while the user is logged in, capturing the same HTML, CSS, and ARIA attributes that a public page scan would check.
Setting Up Notifications and Reports
Scheduled scans are most useful when results reach the right people automatically. Most tools allow email notifications after each scan completes, with a summary of newly identified issues or changes from the previous scan.
Some tools integrate with project management systems so that new issues can be logged as tasks. The goal is to connect scan output directly to a remediation workflow rather than letting reports accumulate unread.
What Scheduled Scans Do and Do Not Cover
Automated scans evaluate HTML, CSS, and ARIA attributes against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) success criteria. They identify issues like missing form labels, empty link text, and incorrect heading order.
Scans only flag approximately 25% of accessibility issues. The remaining 75% requires human evaluation, including screen reader testing, keyboard testing, and visual inspection. Scheduled scans are a monitoring layer, not a substitute for a thorough accessibility audit.
Recurring scans are most effective as an early warning system that catches regressions between audits, keeping the backlog of new issues small and manageable.