The Importance of Accessibility Testing for Your Website: What You Need to Know
“Accessibility testing is the type of software testing performed to ensure that web and mobile applications are usable by people with disabilities”. This includes people with visual problems, hearing, mobility, and cognitive impairments. The goal of accessibility testing is to identify any barriers that may prevent users with disabilities from using the software.
Developers and testers accurately evaluate the web/mobile applications against established standards and laws, such as WCAG 2.1 or 2.2, ADA, and Section 508, to identify and resolve any accessibility issues and ensure that their software is usable by the widest possible audience.
Examples of Accessibility testing:
Color Contrast-->Color contrast is the variation in brightness and color between the foreground (such as text) and the background elements on a webpage.
Text Alternatives--> Alt text, or alternative text, is used for users who cannot see images. Testers check that images have appropriate alt attributes or aria-labels.
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) Testing--> Ensuring that ARIA roles and attributes are properly assigned to interactive elements such as buttons, form controls, and live regions to improve the screen reader experience.
Keyboard Accessibility testing ensures that the website is accessible only by using a keyboard (e.g., the "Tab" key). It's crucial to test keyboard shortcuts that can access, focus on, and activate all interactive elements, including links, buttons, and form controls.
Digital accessibility testing standards:
WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines were developed by the W3C, which provides internationally recognized standards to ensure digital content is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
Accessibility testing is centered around the four core WCAG principles, which are known as POUR.
Perceivable- The information and user elements should be perceivable through sight, hearing, or touch.
Operable- All functions must be keyboard-accessible, allow sufficient time for interaction, and offer clear navigation with options to skip repetitive content.
Understandable- Content and interfaces should be straightforward to read, understand, and navigate.
Robust-Content should work with current and future assistive technologies, browsers, and devices. Use clean HTML and adhere to web standards. Prevent non-standard code that may not function with screen readers or future browsers.
These principles form the foundation for creating web content that is both usable and inclusive.
WCAG defines three levels of conformance:
Level A: Basic accessibility requirements, addressing the most essential barriers.
Level AA: Builds on Level A, covering a broader range of needs, including more severe disabilities.
Level AAA: The highest standard, aiming for full accessibility for all users, regardless of disability.
Types of Accessibility Testing:
There are two types of accessibility testing, manual and automated.
Manual accessibility testing and tools:
In this, we are using tools like Screen Readers (e.g., NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver), Keyboard Testing, Color Contrast Analyzers (e.g., TPGi’s Colour Contrast Analyser), Manual Checklists (based on WCAG), Browser Developer Tools (e.g., Chrome DevTools > Accessibility tab), and Zoom/Magnification.
Automated accessibility testing and tools:
In this, we are using tools like Axe by Deque, WAVE (by WebAIM), Pa11y, Siteimprove, Dynomapper, Tenon, and Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools)
Teams can deploy manual, automated, or hybrid methods based on the project requirement.
Manual accessibility testing using keyboard navigation:
Keyboard navigation is the testing type that ensures the application content is accessible by keyboard only. Testing with a keyboard is a vital step in evaluating the accessibility of a site.
Key Stokes and keyboard accessibility testing checklists are:
Tab - Used to navigate forward
Shift + Tab -Used for navigating backward
Visible Focus – Is the focused element clearly outlined or highlighted?
Enter - To activate the link
Enter or Spacebar - Used to activate the button
Spacebar - check/uncheck a checkbox
↑/↓ or ←/→ - navigate between options
Tab - leave the group of radio buttons
↑/↓ - scroll vertically
←/→ - scroll horizontally
Spacebar/Shift + Spacebar - scroll by page
Form Access – Can you fill out and submit forms using only the keyboard?
Skip Links – Is there a "Skip to content" link that works?
A sample example that demonstrates keyboard-accessible page navigation using only the keyboard.
Step 1:Focus starts on "Home"
After pressing Tab, the focus lands on the first menu item.
Step 2: By using the right arrow key, we can navigate to the "Services".
Step 3: Move to "Contact" and press Enter/Space.
Step 4: Move to the Checkboxes using the Tab key and use the spacebar to select the checkbox and the radio button.
Step 5: Move to Form using the Tab key, fill in the details, and submit by selecting Space/Enter.
To test the ScreenReader, we can choose any screen reader tool.
For Windows (Free)
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) → nvaccess.org
Narrator (Built-in) → Press Win + Ctrl + Enter to launch.
Mac
VoiceOver (Built-in) → Press Cmd + F5 to activate.
Chrome Extension
ChromeVox → Install from Chrome Web Store
Color Contrast Analyzers:
A Color Contrast Analyzer is a tool used to check if the foreground (text) and background colors on a webpage have enough contrast for readability, especially for users with visual impairments.
Popular Color Contrast Analyzer Tools.
1. WebAIM Contrast Checker (Online)
Paste foreground/background hex codes
Instantly tells you if it passes AA/AAA
2. TPGi Color Contrast Analyzer (Desktop App)
Windows & macOS
You can use an eyedropper to test colors from anywhere on the screen
3. Google Chrome DevTools
Right-click on a webpage → Inspect
Select a text element
In the Styles tab, find the color property
Chrome shows a contrast ratio, and if it passes AA/AAA
4. WCAG Contrast Checker Extension
Chrome extension: Search "WCAG Contrast Checker" in the Chrome Web Store
Highlights problematic areas directly on your webpage
Webpage design should meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), specifically:
AA Level: Minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text
AAA Level: Minimum contrast ratio of 7:1 for enhanced readability
Conclusion: Accessibility testing is not just a technical requirement; it is about building inclusive, ethical, and legally compliant digital products. Moreover, making accessibility is the most essential part of development, benefits everyone, enhances brand reputation, and helps avoid legal risks. Ultimately, accessibility is good design for everyone.
