Why Inclusion and Accessibility Matter in Software Development

Picture this: You're excited to try a new app everyone's talking about. You download it, open it up, and... you can't use it. Maybe the text is too small, the color contrast is poor, or central functions aren’t accessible to you. Frustrating, right? Now imagine feeling this way about most of the software you encounter. This is the reality many users with disabilities face every day. This doesn’t have to be the case, though. We have the power—and the responsibility—to make digital solutions more accessible.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.2 billion people have some type of vision impairment, and by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss.

As software quality experts, our role extends beyond finding bugs and ensuring functionality. We aim to help businesses champion inclusion and accessibility to create products that truly serve all users. Let’s dive right in and discuss why inclusion and accessibility matter in software quality assurance and the development cycle.

The moral reasons

First and foremost, making technology accessible to all is the right thing to do. This goes beyond the legal requirements and market advantages and speaks to an organization's and individual’s core values. In an increasingly digital world, access to technology is not just a convenience, but a necessity, as more of our banking, shopping, and communication moves online. By ensuring web accessibility and inclusion, we build a more equitable digital landscape in tech and ensure no one is excluded from our society.

The legal reasons

Not only is it a moral issue, accessibility is often a legal matter. Many nations have legislation in their territories that requires businesses to meet specific accessibility standards to operate in their domains. By not implementing these standards you can incur hefty fines and loss of reputation. The three biggest standards to make note of are WCAG globally, ADA in the US, and the impending European Digital Accessibility Act coming into force in the EU in 2025. Here is a brief summary of each:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is legally enforced in the US by the Department of Justice and states that organizations must ensure all websites, mobile apps, and electronic documents are accessible to all. This includes having options for screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and captioning in videos. If you want to operate in the US market this standard is literally a must-have.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the WCAG is one of the most popular guidelines to follow, and many organizations implement WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance to meet legal requirements and best practices. It is based on 4 key principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Implementing and staying up to date with WCAG is a great way to avoid legal issues.

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Although the EAA was adopted in 2019, businesses have until June 2025 to comply, so if you operate in the European Union and haven’t improved your web accessibility yet, you had better get started now. The EAA is similar to the ADA in that businesses must ensure everything from computers and operating systems, to e-books and smartphones are accessible to all, and those who aren't compliant can be taken to court.

These are the big ones, but it is important to also consider other standards such as Section 508 for government agencies in the US and the UK Equality Act of 2010, both of which function as legal requirements like the ADA and the EAA.

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Market benefits 

In addition to the moral and legal prerogative, adding accessibility to your products can give you a serious competitive advantage. Accessibility testing allows businesses to find and add additional features to their products that make them more competitive and robust. These are just some of the benefits that companies can experience through integrating accessibility into their products.

1. Expanding your user base

Accessible software reaches wider audiences and allows people with disabilities or other limitations to access your product. This market tends to be under-served and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. So by providing truly accessible business solutions to these communities, businesses can gain loyal and appreciative customers, and tap into a massive user base. This not only increases potential market share but also fulfills our ethical obligation to create inclusive technology.

2. Improving user experience

Features designed for accessibility often benefit all users. For example, clear navigation and readable fonts enhance usability for everyone. Focusing on high-quality UX design leads to higher user satisfaction rates, better reviews, and increased product adoption.

3. Driving innovation

Considering diverse needs can lead to creative solutions and novel features that set products apart in the market. These features often end up helping all users. For example, voice control systems originally developed to help users with mobility impairments have become very popular with the general public and now play roles in-home smart devices, wearable devices like watches, and hands-free car navigation systems.

4. Reducing bugs 

Accessibility testing often uncovers usability issues that affect all users. This comes from accessibility requirements often pushing software to its limits, exposing edge cases that might otherwise go unnoticed. Additionally, ensuring accessibility across different devices and browsers often leads to the discovery of compatibility issues. The rigor that comes from accessibility testing essentially reduces software bugs and leads to more robust and user-friendly software.

5. Enhancing brand reputation

Commitment to accessibility can significantly boost a company's reputation. It demonstrates corporate social responsibility. This attracts socially conscious consumers and investors and leads to increased customer trust and market share. Additionally, companies that prioritize accessibility often find themselves ahead of the curve when new regulations come into effect, giving them a first-mover advantage.

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QA strategies for inclusion and accessibility

When looking to make your product accessible it is best to partner with digital accessibility experts to ensure all requirements, both moral and legal are met, as missed steps can lead to serious headaches down the road. But to get started, these are some strategies to consider:

1. Integrate accessibility testing into all development stages

Don't treat accessibility as an afterthought. Integrate digital accessibility in your test plans from the beginning, and make it a part of your definition of "done" for any feature. Planning early allows for continuous testing down the line. This will ensure that the end product is robust and can even cut down costs in the long run by reducing the need to go back and patch products.

2. Use assistive technologies during testing

Part of integrating accessibility into your development cycle involves familiarizing yourself with screen readers, voice control software, adaptive switches, and other assistive technologies. Use these tools regularly in your testing to understand the user experience they provide, and make integrating them easier.

3. Involve users with diverse abilities in user testing

Nothing beats real-world testing. Partner with organizations representing people with disabilities to get authentic user feedback loops.

4. Stay updated on accessibility guidelines 

Adjustments and updates are constantly being added to the ADA, WCAG, and the EAA as the technological landscape evolves. Make sure your team stays current with the latest standards and best practices. This will help you stay accessible and avoid serious legal trouble.

5. Conduct regular accessibility audits

Using both automated accessibility tools and manual testing to perform comprehensive accessibility audits helps catch issues that might have slipped through during feature-specific testing. Doing this will help further down the line as your business meets customer expectations and avoids the legal implications of missed steps.

Adopting these strategies ensures the approach taken by your developer teams leads to more robust, user-friendly software for everyone, while also meeting the needs of users with disabilities. It's a win-win situation that improves overall software quality while promoting inclusivity.

Conclusion

Accessibility isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a commitment to making sure technology works for everyone. By making accessibility a cornerstone of your development process, you create software that not only complies with legal standards but also resonates with users, drives innovation, and expands your market reach.

At the end of the day, accessible products lead to happier users, stronger brands, and better software quality overall. 

Want to make sure your product is accessible to everyone? Contact us to learn how our accessibility testing services can help you be inclusive and compliant.