You probably think accessibility QA is about running automated checkers. Or maybe manually tabbing through a website.
None of that is wrong. But it’s incomplete.
The hard truth is that true accessibility QA isn't a separate phase you tack on at the end. It’s a continuous, integrated part of your entire creative and development process. It’s about building inclusive thinking into the bedrock of how you work, from kickoff to launch and beyond.
1. Shift Left: Embed Accessibility Early
The biggest mistake agencies and teams make is treating accessibility as an afterthought. You wouldn't ship a product with a broken login flow because you forgot to test it. Why would you ship one that’s unusable for millions?
Accessibility issues caught late in the game are expensive and painful to fix. They often require significant re-design or re-development. This leads to scope creep, blown budgets, and stressed-out teams.
The goal is to shift accessibility considerations as far left in your workflow as possible.
Discovery & Strategy
Start asking the right questions from day one. Who are your users? Do you have diverse user personas? What are the potential barriers for different user groups?
This isn't just about compliance; it’s about reaching a wider audience and building better products for everyone. Consider the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) not as a burden, but as a framework for creating more robust and user-friendly experiences.
Design
Accessibility needs to be baked into the design system.
This means:
- Ensuring sufficient color contrast ratios.
- Designing clear and logical focus states for interactive elements.
- Planning for keyboard navigation.
- Using clear, descriptive labels and alt text.
- Considering different screen sizes and orientations.
- Designing for screen readers – think semantic HTML and ARIA where appropriate.
Tools like Figma and Sketch offer plugins and features to help designers check contrast and other visual aspects during the design phase.
Content Creation
Content is king, but it needs to be accessible too.
This involves:
- Writing clear, concise language.
- Using headings and subheadings to structure content logically.
- Providing captions and transcripts for video and audio.
- Ensuring link text is descriptive and not just
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between accessibility and usability?
Usability focuses on how easy a product is to use for the broadest range of users. Accessibility specifically focuses on ensuring people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with a product.
Are automated accessibility checkers enough?
No. Automated checkers are a good starting point and can catch many common issues, but they can't identify all accessibility barriers. Manual testing, especially with assistive technologies, is crucial.
How often should accessibility testing be performed?
Ideally, accessibility should be considered and tested throughout the entire project lifecycle, not just as a final QA step. This includes design, development, content creation, and post-launch.
What assistive technologies should I test with?
Common assistive technologies include screen readers (like JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), screen magnifiers, voice control software, and keyboard-only navigation. Testing with a variety of these provides a more comprehensive assessment.