Regularly testing your website is essential to ensure it is accessible. A combination of automated tools and manual checks will provide the most accurate and comprehensive assessment.
Methods for Testing:
Automated Testing Tools:
- Browser Extensions: Tools like aXe, WAVE, and ARC Toolkit can be installed in your browser to scan any webpage for accessibility issues. They are excellent for catching common problems like missing alt text, low contrast, and improper heading structure.
- Online Checkers: You can use web-based tools to enter a URL and get a report on its accessibility status.
- Limitations: Automated tools can only detect a fraction of potential accessibility issues. They cannot determine if alt text is meaningful or if the keyboard navigation order is logical.
Manual Testing:
- Keyboard-Only Navigation: Try to navigate your entire website using only the Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, and Spacebar keys. Can you access every interactive element? Is the focus indicator always visible? Is the order logical?
- Screen Reader Testing: Use a screen reader (like NVDA for Windows, VoiceOver for Mac, or TalkBack for Android) to navigate your site. Does the content make sense when read aloud? Are images and controls described properly?
- Check Color Contrast: Use a color contrast analyzer tool to check the contrast ratios of your text and background colors, ensuring they meet at least the WCAG AA requirement.
- Zoom and Reflow: Zoom your browser to 200%. Does the content reflow into a single column without requiring horizontal scrolling? Is all text still readable and functional?
User Testing:
- The most effective way to understand your site’s accessibility is to involve people with disabilities in the testing process. Their firsthand feedback can reveal barriers that automated and manual checks might miss.
By combining these methods, you can gain a holistic view of your site’s accessibility and take meaningful steps toward improvement.
