Hi everyone, and welcome to our "Questions & Answers" section!
Today we're tackling one of the most common and important questions in the field of accessibility: "How can I test my website's accessibility?" Understanding whether a site is WCAG compliant and usable for everyone is fundamental. There's no single "magic" solution, but a combination of approaches is always best.
1. Automated Testing Tools:
Automated tools are a great starting point for quickly identifying common and obvious issues. They are fast and scalable.
- Examples: Google Lighthouse (built into Chrome DevTools), axe DevTools (browser extension), WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool).
- Pros: Detect issues like missing alt text, low contrast, invalid ARIA attributes.
- Limitations: Can only detect about 30-50% of accessibility issues. They cannot evaluate usability or focus consistency.
Manual testing is indispensable for catching problems that automated tools cannot detect.
- Keyboard Navigation:
- Navigate your entire site using only the Tab key (to move between interactive elements) and Enter/Space (to activate them).
- Verify that all interactive elements are reachable, that the tab order is logical, and that there are no keyboard traps.
- Check that the focus state is always visible.
- Screen Reader Testing:
- Use a screen reader (e.g., NVDA or JAWS on Windows, VoiceOver on macOS/iOS) to navigate your site.
- Listen to how content is read and how navigation works. You can understand if alt text is appropriate, if ARIA roles are well-implemented, or if there are content blocks that don't make sense out of visual context.
- Zoom and Magnification:
- Zoom text and the page using browser features (Ctrl/Cmd + +).
- Verify that the layout doesn't break, text remains readable, and there are no overlaps.
- Color Contrast Checks:
- Although automated tools help, use a manual checker to test specific colors (e.g., text appearing on images or gradients).
- Window Resizing:
- Check how the site behaves at different viewport widths to ensure breakpoints are accessible.
The most effective way to understand the true user experience is to involve people with disabilities. They are the experts of their own experience and can reveal usability issues that no automated or manual test can catch.
- If possible, organize testing sessions with users who use assistive technologies or have various disabilities.
What are your favorite tools or methods for testing accessibility? Do you have any quick "tricks" or tips for beginners? What are the most challenging issues to spot?
Warm regards,
Michele (wcgadmfrm)
WCAG Plus Forum Team