Web Accessibility Tools: Helping or Hurting Digital Inclusion?

In the pursuit of creating truly inclusive digital experiences, web accessibility tools have shown themselves as valuable allies—or have they? These automated tools promise to streamline the process of identifying and resolving accessibility issues, but their effectiveness and limitations have been the subject of ongoing debate within the accessibility community.

Before we jump into the topic of web accessibility tools, let's clear a few things up. There are two types of web accessibility tools. The first helps you test your web application and provide results. The second—often called widgets—"make" your web application go from inaccessible to accessible with just a few button clicks. 

Either way, these web accessibility testing tools promise the same result—accessibility. But how good are they at keeping this promise? We set out to find out just that. Do web accessibility testing tools help or hurt your efforts towards digital inclusion? Let’s find out.

Web accessibility testing tools

Let's start with web accessibility tools for testing purposes. On the one hand, web accessibility testing tools, including accessibility browser extensions, offer a level of efficiency and scalability that manual testing alone doesn't even come close to. By automating the process of scanning websites and applications for potential accessibility barriers, these tools can quickly highlight areas that require further attention, saving time and resources for developers and accessibility professionals alike.

Take, for instance, popular accessibility tools like Axe, WAVE, and Lighthouse. With a few clicks, these tools can analyze web pages, identify violations against accessibility standards such as WCAG and the European Accessibility Act, and provide detailed reports on issues ranging from missing alternative text to insufficient color contrast ratios. This level of automation is invaluable for large-scale projects or websites with numerous pages, where manual testing would be prohibitively time-consuming.

However, as powerful as these tools may be, they are not a solution for ensuring comprehensive accessibility. Over-reliance on automated tools can lead to a false sense of security, as many accessibility issues require human judgment and an experienced “eye” for interpretation—something that automated tools inherently lack….for now. 🙂

While a tool may flag the absence of alternative text for an image, it cannot determine the appropriateness or accuracy of the provided alternative text. Similarly, automated tools may struggle to evaluate a website or application's usability and intuitive navigation for users with cognitive or motor impairments. These subjective aspects of accessibility often require the expertise and empathy of human testers with diverse abilities and perspectives.

IAAP-Certified Accessibility Quality Engineer @TestDevLab, Elīna Šiškeviča. 

Furthermore, web accessibility tools are only as effective as the rules and algorithms they rely on. As web technologies and accessibility standards continue to evolve, these tools may become outdated or fail to account for new developments, leading to potential gaps in their coverage. While this may not happen with all tools, it's a possibility you have to consider. 

So, what's the solution? Should we abandon web accessibility testing tools altogether and rely solely on manual testing? Certainly not. The key lies in striking the right balance and recognizing the strengths and limitations of both automated and manual approaches.

Web accessibility tools should be seen as valuable allies in the mission for digital inclusion but not as a replacement for human expertise and judgment. Web accessibility tools can serve as powerful first-line scanners, identifying low-hanging fruit and potential areas of concern that require further investigation by skilled accessibility professionals who provide consultancy, audit, and testing services.

Most popular web accessibility testing tools in 2024

As the demand for accessible digital experiences continues to grow, the market for web accessibility testing tools has expanded to meet the needs of organizations and accessibility professionals, offering a diverse range of solutions. Here are some of the most popular and widely adopted web accessibility testing tools in 2024:

1. Axe by Deque Systems. Axe is an open-source accessibility testing tool that provides automated testing capabilities for web applications, browser extensions, and mobile apps. It offers a comprehensive ruleset based on WCAG, Section 508, and other accessibility standards, making it a versatile choice for evaluating accessibility compliance.
2. WAVE by WebAIM. Developed by WebAIM, WAVE is a browser extension and online service that helps identify accessibility issues on web pages. It uses visual overlays and detailed reports to highlight potential barriers, making it a user-friendly tool for developers and accessibility professionals.
3. Lighthouse by Google. Integrated into Chrome DevTools, Lighthouse is a suite of auditing tools that includes accessibility testing capabilities. It evaluates web pages against various criteria, including accessibility, performance, and best practices, providing a comprehensive overview of potential issues.
4. Accessibility Insights by Microsoft. This tool suite from Microsoft offers solutions for assessing the accessibility of web applications, desktop applications, and mobile apps (Android and iOS). It aims to help developers and testers identify and remediate accessibility issues within their development environments.
5. ANDI by Deque Systems. ANDI is a specialized tool that focuses on evaluating the accessibility of user interface elements in web applications. It provides detailed insights into the naming and description of UI components, helping to ensure they are properly labeled and accessible.
6. Contrast Checker by WebAIM. As the name suggests, WebAIM's Contrast Checker is a tool specifically designed to verify color contrast ratios between text and background colors. It adheres to WCAG guidelines and is useful for ensuring color accessibility.
7. Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) by Level Access. AMP is a platform that combines automated testing capabilities with manual testing workflows. It includes features for reporting, project management, and centralized accessibility testing across various platforms.
8. Accessibility Scanner by CommonLook. CommonLook's Accessibility Scanner supports testing for web applications, desktop software, and PDF documents. It generates detailed reports and can integrate with popular development environments, making it a versatile addition to accessibility testing toolkits.

When it comes to web accessibility tools, it’s important to remember that having tools is one thing; knowing how to use them is another. 

Web accessibility compliance tools

While many web accessibility testing tools focus on identifying and reporting accessibility issues, a subset of tools takes a different approach—attempting to address accessibility barriers directly through the use of overlays. These tools (also called widgets) claim to make websites more accessible by providing alternative interfaces and customization options through on-the-fly modifications.

These solutions typically work by injecting a JavaScript snippet into a website, which then generates an accessibility interface overlay or widget. Users can then interact with this overlay to enable features like screen reader functionality, keyboard navigation, contrast adjustments, and content customization.

The promise of these tools is appealing—they promote them as a one-size-fits-all solution for digital accessibility compliance that can be applied to any website without significant development effort. However, their effectiveness is debatable. 

These tools don't address the root causes of accessibility issues and may even introduce new barriers or conflicts with existing assistive technologies. Also, these overlays can interfere with websites' natural functionality, leading to confusing or frustrating experiences for users with disabilities. From the other perspective, this could be a better option for companies with limited resources than doing nothing to deliver inclusive experiences and broaden their user base. 

Ultimately, the decision to use digital accessibility overlay tools should be carefully considered, taking into account the organization's specific needs/situation, the complexity of the website or application, and the potential impact on the user experience for individuals with disabilities. While these tools may serve as a band-aid in certain circumstances, they should not be viewed as a long-term substitute for comprehensive accessibility testing, remediation, and inclusive design practices.

Accessibility training

Additionally, organizations should prioritize ongoing training and education for their teams, ensuring that they stay up-to-date with the latest accessibility standards, best practices, and tool capabilities. This approach, combining automated tools with human expertise and continuous learning, can help organizations deliver truly amazing digital experiences and leave a positive impact on business financial data in the long run. 

At TestDevLab, we understand the nuances of web accessibility and the importance of leveraging both automated tools and human expertise. Our team of certified accessibility professionals is well-versed in the latest tools and techniques, using them as a starting point to conduct comprehensive manual evaluations and provide tailored recommendations for enhancing the accessibility of your digital products and services.

Don't be afraid of accessibility testing tools, use them in your favor, however, remember that delivering true inclusivity requires a human touch. Contact us today and learn how we can help you navigate the world of accessibility testing and create digital experiences that stay in memory.