How to test a webpage for accessibility issues

How can I tell if my website is accessible?

This a common question and today we’re looking at the methodology behind the answer.

An accessible webpage supports the needs of users with disabilities in accessing the page content without barriers. The only way to determine if a webpage is accessible is through accessibility testing. This testing is conducted using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standard. While WCAG is the accepted standard, you may find that specialized testing is required for certain users with specific needs.

There are two methods of accessibility testing:

Automated testing uses software to scan your webpage against a set of rules based on the WCAG standard. It doesn’t require people with specialized training and it quickly identifies a subset of WCAG errors (e.g. low color contrast, missing image alternative text, HTML semantic issues). However, automated testing only accounts for about 30% of WCAG issues and it can’t completely test any criteria.

Manual testing is performed by someone with specialized accessibility training. That could be an accessibility consultant or a disabled user with proficiency in assistive technology. The testing standard is the same – WCAG. However, manual testing has a focus on testing for keyboard navigation and screen reader support. Manual testing is an essential component in fully testing your webpage against all WCAG criteria.

As you can probably tell, automated and manual testing work together to give you a complete picture of accessibility support. They compliment each other by pairing speed and efficiency with in-depth, human testing to ensure full coverage.