Welcome back to our new series on Digital Accessibility Testing Fundamentals! In this series, we’ll be discussing the Digital Accessibility Testing Fundamentals.
Digital accessibility testing evaluates digital products, such as websites, mobile applications, and software, to ensure that they can be accessed and used by people with disabilities. This includes individuals with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments. The goal of digital accessibility testing is to identify and remove any barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing and using digital products.
Why is Digital Accessibility Testing Important?
Digital accessibility testing is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to ensure that digital products comply with accessibility guidelines and standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are designed to ensure that digital content is accessible to people with disabilities. Compliance with these guidelines is important as it ensures that digital products are accessible to a wider audience, including people with disabilities, who make up a significant portion of the population.
Secondly, digital accessibility testing helps identify and remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing and using digital products. By making digital products more accessible, businesses can reach a larger audience and improve user experience. In addition, accessibility testing can help to prevent legal issues related to discrimination against people with disabilities.
Who is responsible for accessibility testing?
The short answer is “Everyone“. Accessibility is not the responsibility of any one role, but the result of a team’s commitment to creating an accessible product.
This includes:
- Developers
- Designers
- QA
- Copywriters
- DevOps
- Decision Makers
Digital Accessibility Testing Techniques
There are several techniques used in digital accessibility testing, including manual testing, automated testing, user testing, and code review.
Manual Testing
Manual testing involves using assistive technology, such as screen readers, to navigate digital products. Manual testing also includes keyboard navigation, color contrast testing, and testing for other accessibility features.
Automated Testing
Automated testing involves using software and tools to test digital products for accessibility features automatically. Automated testing can be used to check for color contrast, alt text, and other accessibility features.
User Testing
User testing involves testing digital products with people who have disabilities. User testing provides valuable feedback on accessibility features and can help identify any issues that need to be addressed.
Code Review
Code review involves reviewing the code of digital products to ensure that accessibility features are implemented correctly. Code review can help identify coding errors or issues affecting accessibility.
Digital accessibility testing is essential to ensure that digital products are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. By using a combination of manual and automated testing, user testing, and code review, businesses can ensure that their digital products are accessible to a wider audience. By making digital products more accessible, businesses can improve user experience, reach a larger audience, and demonstrate their commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.
For more information on why accessibility is important in general, you can check out my previous blog post here.
For further information on how to make your product accessible to your audience, contact our experienced design experts, check out our Accessibility IQ for your website, download our guide Digitally Accessible Experiences: Why It Matters and How to Create Them, read more from our UX for Accessible Design series.
So, What Comes Next?
In the next post, we’ll continue our exploration of Manual Testing and discuss the importance of keyboard accessibility testing, which is crucial for people with motor disabilities or who rely on assistive technologies. Then, we’ll move on to Automated Testing and examine how it can help streamline the testing process and ensure website accessibility more efficiently.
Follow my next post; Exploring Manual Testing for Web Accessibility: Digital Accessibility Testing Fundamentals 1 of 4
