What Is Accessibility Testing and Why Is It Important?

Let's be honest, in today's digital world, companies can't afford to leave anyone behind. Technology has become so deeply ingrained in our daily lives that ensuring equal access to this technology for all users, regardless of their abilities or circumstances, is no longer just a nice-to-have feature—it's a moral and business imperative. But the question is—do all companies understand the true value and importance of accessibility?  The short answer is, no, not at all. 

Why not? The reason again, is quite simple. Ensuring digital accessibility means upfront investments and a lot of companies are just not ready for that. Even if it means gaining more customers in the long run. 

Anyway, let’s talk about accessibility and why it’s important. By evaluating digital products for accessibility, as well as usability, we can break down barriers and open up a world of opportunities for individuals with disabilities or impairments. But don't just take our word for it—let's dive into the reasons why accessibility testing should be at the top of every organization's priority list, especially today. 

The legal and ethical imperatives

First, let's address the elephant in the room—accessibility isn't just a box to tick, it's the law in many regions worldwide. Failure to comply with accessibility regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), European Accessibility Act (EAA) or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) can land businesses in hot water, facing costly lawsuits and ruined reputations. And reputational damage can even be lethal for startups and scaleups since they are not yet well established in the market and heavily rely on investors. 

But beyond the legal obligations, there's a moral imperative that simply cannot be ignored. By neglecting accessibility, companies are effectively excluding over 1 billion people worldwide who live with some form of disability, according to the World Health Organization. That's a staggering number of potential customers, employees, and contributors you’re shutting out—and that's just not good business.

Although accessibility lawsuits often end up with fines, actual numbers can vary depending on the country of origin and local laws. For example, if we talk about the European Accessibility Act (EAA), it can reach millions. For more detailed information, feel free to visit our European Accessibility Act compliance page to learn how to become EAA compliant and what penalties apply to your country. 

The business case for accessibility

Speaking of business, let's talk numbers. A Forrester report revealed that companies that prioritize accessibility and inclusive design can achieve a jaw-dropping return on investment of up to 800% (yes, you read that right!). Not only that, but a study by WebAIM suggests that accessible websites have better search engine optimization (SEO) and overall findability, translating into increased traffic and potential revenue. 

But the benefits go beyond just the bottom line. By working towards accessibility, businesses can tap into a huge and underserved market, building customer loyalty among a diverse user base. And let's not forget the innovation factor. Building custom accessibility solutions can set your business apart from your competitors. 

Accessibility testing under the microscope

While the importance of accessibility testing is clear (at least we hope it is by now), it's crucial to understand what this process entails and the types of issues it can uncover. Accessibility testing is a comprehensive process that examines digital products and services through various lenses to ensure they are usable and inclusive for individuals with diverse abilities and needs.

At its core are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We use these recommendations as a guide for all the activities mentioned below. These recommendations cover various aspects that should be tested in order for  your application to meet industry standards. Let’s look at some aspects covered in the WCAG and how you successfully meet specific requirements.

1. Keyboard navigation

Check if all functionalities can be accessed and operated using a keyboard alone, without relying on a mouse or other pointing devices.

2. Screen reader compatibility

Test the compatibility of your website with screen readers, which are assistive technologies that convert on-screen information into audible or tactile output for users with visual impairments.

3. Alternative texts

Verify that all non-text content, such as images, videos, and interactive elements, have appropriate alternative text descriptions to convey their purpose and meaning to users who cannot perceive them visually.

4. Color contrast

Evaluate the contrast ratios between text and background colors to ensure legibility for users with visual impairments, including those with color vision deficiencies.

5. Closed captions and audio descriptions

Test the availability and accuracy of closed captions and audio descriptions for multimedia content, ensuring accessibility for users with hearing or visual impairments.

6. Focus management

Assess the logic and flow of focus when navigating through interactive elements, ensuring that users can easily understand and interact with the content.

7. Seizure safety

Verify that there are no flashing or rapidly blinking elements that could potentially trigger seizures in users with photosensitive epilepsy.

It’s important to note that these recommendations apply to both web and mobile apps.

The latest trends and advancements

As technology continues to evolve at a fast pace, the field of accessibility testing is keeping up with some exciting developments. Automated testing tools like axe, WAVE, and Lighthouse are streamlining the process, allowing teams to identify and resolve accessibility issues with greater efficiency. However, remember that tools alone won't give you full coverage, but rather a really good insight into your app's current state. 

But it's not only about tools. We see that companies are slowly starting to prioritize and shift towards inclusive design and integrate accessibility testing into Agile and DevOps methodologies. Fingers crossed that it's going to be a geometric, not arithmetic progression. 🙂

The issue that still remains

Although we can see a slight shift in accessibility awareness,  if we take two steps back and look at the bigger picture, digital accessibility is still far from being a priority for most companies, especially when it comes to mobile applications. Despite our efforts to raise awareness, there's still a lot of work to be done before we can truly say that people with disabilities have the same access to digital environments like the rest of society. 

If you are one of those companies that care about their customers, recognize the importance of accessibility, and want to see your business grow, give us a heads up and let's see how we can help.