Accessibility Testing

Accessibility testing is the process of evaluating digital products to ensure they can be used by people with disabilities. It helps create more inclusive experiences by identifying and removing barriers that might prevent users with diverse abilities from successfully interacting with websites, apps, and other digital interfaces.

Why Accessibility Testing Matters

Accessibility testing is not just about compliance—it's about inclusive design that serves all users. Here's why it's crucial:

• Legal compliance: Many countries have laws requiring digital accessibility (ADA in the US, EAA in Europe)
• Broader audience reach: People with disabilities represent about 15% of the global population
• Improved user experience for everyone: Features like good contrast and clear navigation benefit all users
• Brand reputation: Shows your organization values inclusion and equity
• Risk reduction: Helps avoid potential legal issues and discrimination complaints

When you neglect accessibility testing, you potentially exclude millions of users from accessing your products and services, which has both ethical and business implications.

How Accessibility Testing Works

Accessibility testing involves evaluating your digital product against established guidelines, most commonly the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines are organized around four principles, often remembered by the acronym POUR:

• Perceivable: Information must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive
• Operable: Interface components must be operable by diverse users
• Understandable: Information and operation must be understandable
• Robust: Content must be robust enough to work with various assistive technologies

Testing Methods

Effective accessibility testing combines multiple approaches:

1. Automated testing

   • Tools like Axe, WAVE, or Lighthouse scan for common issues
   • Quick way to catch obvious problems like missing alt text or color contrast
   • ✅ Use as a first pass, but don't rely solely on automation

2. Manual testing

   • Expert review against WCAG guidelines
   • Keyboard navigation testing
   • Screen reader testing
   • ✅ Essential for finding issues that automated tools miss

3. User testing with people with disabilities

   • Involves participants with various disabilities using your product
   • Provides real-world insights no other method can capture
   • ✅ The gold standard for truly understanding accessibility issues

Best Practices for Accessibility Testing

To make your a11y testing effective:

• Test early and often: Incorporate accessibility testing from the beginning of your design process
• Use a combination of methods: Automated tools, manual testing, and user testing complement each other
• Prioritize issues: Focus first on barriers that completely prevent usage (like keyboard traps)
• Document findings clearly: Include specific WCAG success criteria and reproduction steps
• Follow up: Re-test after fixes to ensure problems are truly resolved
• Stay updated: WCAG guidelines evolve; stay current with the latest standards

✅ Create an accessibility testing checklist tailored to your product's common features

✅ Include users with different types of disabilities in your testing panel

❌ Don't assume automated tools catch everything; they typically find only about 30% of issues

Common Accessibility Testing Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls when conducting accessibility testing:

• Testing too late: Retrofitting accessibility is more expensive than designing for it
• Over-relying on automated tools: They miss many nuanced issues
• Testing with only one disability type: Different disabilities require different accommodations
• Treating accessibility as a one-time task: It's an ongoing commitment
• Focusing only on compliance: Technical compliance doesn't always equal actual usability
• Not testing with real assistive technology: Simulations don't provide accurate results

❌ Never skip keyboard testing—it's essential for users with motor disabilities and screen reader users

Connection to Card Sorting

Card sorting and accessibility have important connections:

• Inclusive research: When conducting card sorting exercises, include participants with disabilities to ensure your information architecture works for everyone
• Accessible card sorting tools: Use card sorting platforms that are themselves accessible via keyboard and screen readers
• Terminology validation: Card sorting can help identify if your terminology is clear and understandable for all users, including those with cognitive disabilities
• Information hierarchy: A well-organized site structure from card sorting results benefits users with cognitive disabilities who need clear, logical navigation

✅ When analyzing card sort results, consider whether participants with disabilities showed different patterns that might indicate accessibility issues in your conceptual model

Getting Started with Accessibility Testing

Begin incorporating accessibility testing with these steps:

1. Familiarize yourself with WCAG guidelines (current version is 2.1, with 2.2 emerging)
2. Run an automated test on your existing digital products to identify obvious issues
3. Conduct a basic manual keyboard test—can you use all features without a mouse?
4. Create an accessibility testing plan that fits into your regular UX research schedule
5. Consider bringing in accessibility specialists for training or consulting

Remember that perfect accessibility is a journey, not a destination. Continuous improvement is the goal.

Want to make sure your navigation makes sense to all users? Start with a free card sort to test your information architecture with diverse participants, including those who use assistive technologies.