Manual accessibility testing is essential in ensuring that digital spaces are truly inclusive for all users. While automated technologies play a crucial role in identifying issues, their limitations highlight the significance of human intervention. Engaging in manual testing allows us to delve deeper, going beyond what automated tools can detect, uncovering around 20-30% more problems that could be missed otherwise. With the potential for false results in automated testing, the human touch becomes imperative for accurate assessments. As you embark on this crucial journey of manual accessibility testing, be prepared to gain invaluable insights that are vital for making the web a more accessible place for everyone. This blog aims to provide you with all the necessary knowledge for successful manual accessibility testing, empowering you to make a meaningful impact in creating a more inclusive online environment.

What Is Manual Accessibility Testing?

Performing a manual review of your website or application to identify accessibility issues that may pose challenges for individuals with impairments is referred to as manual accessibility testing. This form of testing is crucial for detecting issues that may not be caught by automated tests. Examples of manual testing scenarios include:

Ensuring website accessibility includes verifying the user experience remains consistent with or without sound by disabling speakers and microphones.

Utilizing only keyboard navigation to ensure all content is easily accessible and providing a skip navigation link.

Testing with a screen reader is essential to guarantee material is easily understood when read aloud in order to enhance app or website accessibility.

Why Manual Accessibility Testing Is Important?

Manual accessibility testing is essential for identifying issues that automated tools may miss. Testers examine the site from a disability perspective to ensure universal access. It helps understand features and provide detailed feedback for improvement. Incorporating it improves product inclusivity and user-friendliness.

Manual Testing Offers Essential Feedback

It is important for websites to be accessible to people of all abilities. While algorithms can help assess accessibility, manual testing is crucial for a thorough understanding of a website's usability. The WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards provide a framework for evaluation, but manual testing ensures that all visitors have an equally positive experience on the site.

To begin improving accessibility on your website, focus on testing the pages and user journeys that are most frequently used by customers and visitors, as recommended by the WCAG. By starting with these key pages, you can accurately assess the overall accessibility of your site. Look at popular templates and pages first, and then expand your efforts from there. The goal of accessibility testing is to identify and address any barriers that may prevent individuals from completing tasks on the web, ensuring that everyone can use your site regardless of ability.

Ensuring Screen Reader Compatibility

Screen readers are essential assistive devices for individuals with limited eyesight, as they access the DOM and utilize browser APIs to gather information from websites. They are able to anticipate user needs and deliver information accordingly. Relying solely on automated accessibility testing may result in missing potential issues with screen reader compatibility. Understanding how screen readers operate is crucial before conducting testing to ensure full accessibility for all users.

When starting your testing with a screen reader, it is essential to ensure a smooth and intelligible reading experience for users. Make sure the screen reader does not face any difficulties or interruptions while sounding out the content. Additionally, pay attention to hidden content; avoid having off-canvas navigation or concealed search forms read aloud by the screen reader. A coherent and well-organized layout is crucial—be cautious of confusing elements like dates, phone numbers, or abbreviations. It is crucial to test with various screen readers to enhance accessibility. For example, Mac users can utilize Voiceover, while NVDA is available for free to Windows users. JAWS stands out as a popular commercial screen reader in the market. Screen readers typically follow the order of elements in the source code, audibly presenting the webpage title and all written material found in the HTML. By ensuring these considerations are met, you pave the way for a more inclusive and user-friendly web experience.

Keyboard-Assisted Navigation

When considering website accessibility, catering to keyboard-only navigation is paramount to ensure inclusivity and efficiency. Advanced users often opt for keyboard commands for better speed and precision when browsing web pages, while individuals with impairments rely on keyboard navigation due to limitations with fine motor skills for mouse operation. Regardless of the user's motivation, your website must be equipped to support keyboard-only navigation proficiently. This means users should seamlessly navigate through menus, access critical page links, move effortlessly between sections, and interact with form fields and links using only the keyboard. Ensuring that all interactive components are accessible, such as drop-down menus, buttons, forms, and dialog boxes, is crucial for a smooth user experience. Including a "skip navigation" link enables users to bypass repetitive tabs and directly access essential content, streamlining the navigation process for keyboard users. By prioritizing keyboard accessibility, your website can welcome and accommodate all visitors' needs, reinforcing a professional and inclusive online presence.

Double Check Colours

When assessing colour contrast, it's essential to acknowledge the limitations of automated testing tools. While these tools are valuable aids, they may not always detect every aspect of contrast, particularly in scenarios where some elements might not be visible to them. To illustrate, let's consider an imaginary component where the automated test identifies a white backdrop and dark grey text – a combination deemed acceptable for adequate colour contrast. However, if a medium blue picture falls between the white backdrop and grey text, the automated test may overlook its impact. Consequently, the final result could end up with insufficient colour contrast, like having dark grey text on a medium blue backdrop. It highlights the importance of combining automated testing with human oversight to ensure comprehensive evaluation and adherence to colour contrast standards in design.

Step-by-step Guide for Manual Testing

Manual accessibility testing offers a unique advantage that can't be replicated by automated scanning. By enlisting qualified experts in the field or outsourcing from reputable companies, you ensure that your website caters to users of diverse abilities. These experts possess a deep understanding of browser plugins, assistive technology, and navigation methods that can uncover and resolve issues for optimal accessibility. Combining manual testing, aligned with up-to-date online accessibility guidelines like WCAG standards, and automated scans provides the most reliable path to maintaining compliance and a user-friendly website for all. Remember, the key to a successful digital presence lies in the ongoing vigilance of both manual and automated testing to guarantee an inclusive and accessible experience for all users.

Seek out areas with a minimal color contrast ratio; it is preferable to test ten items and ensure they function properly rather than miss one.

Capture the foreground and background colors either through browser tools or by testing screenshots in software such as Photoshop.

Input these colors into the designated sections on the Color Contrast Checker website. Take into account the font size and determine if it qualifies as a pass or a fail.

Summary

After utilizing automatic accessibility testing software, it is imperative to conduct manual testing as a complementary step. Despite the efficiency of technology, nothing can replace the essence of human insight and discernment when it comes to accessibility testing. Manual testing remains an indispensable part of ensuring that your website is truly accessible to all users. Automated tools, while valuable, fall short in guaranteeing complete compliance. To have a thorough evaluation, it is crucial to opt for an impartial business that specializes in accessibility testing services. This approach ensures that your website or application meets the necessary regulations and offers a seamless experience to all potential visitors.