Accessibility Testing 101

Checking Web Accessibility

Provided below is an informational tool to help get you started testing your web page for accessibility. The following steps give you the power to not only meet federal requirements, but enhance the virtual experiences of users across the globe.

1. Test web page with automated accessibility checker.
   (Must meet WCAG 2.1 standards. See flagged issues acknowledged by automated checker and fix.)
2. Manually check accessibility standards and fix necessary components.
   (Check to make sure your page content makes sense. Make sure alternate text, etc. is modeled in a logical fashion. Test for easy navigation using a screen reader, keyboard, and specialized toolbars.)

Automated Testing

• Compliance Checkers (No Membership Required) The following checkers search for general web page errors that may affect accessibility.          
  • WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
  • AChecker Web Accessibility Checker
  • W3C Markup Validation Service

• Color Checkers (No Membership Required)
  
  • Colorblind Web Page Filter - The following color checker displays a web page through the eyes of the disabled.  One can click on the desired color filter and view the page as such. (i.e. see what someone would see that has red/green color blindness.) 
  • Photosensitive Epilepsy Analysis Tool - This free download checks for epilepsy light flash triggers. 
  • Colour Contrast Analyzer (Win/Mac)  - This color contrast analyzer is one of the Paciello group's resources.      

Manual Testing

• Keyboard testing: Using keyboard-only commands is a good, quick accessibility test. If a document, application or system cannot support mouseless operation it may not support assistive technology or accessibility tools. In addition, keyboard shortcuts often allow you to more efficiently perform task.
  • Take the "No Mouse Challenge" by performing your job for at least 15 minutes without using your mouse.
  • Try Keyboard Shortcuts (https://www.tamusa.edu/website-policies/web-accessibility/keyboard-shortcuts.html) to help you during the challenge
• Screen Readers: The following screen readers are most commonly used.
  • JAWS
    • Using JAWS to Evaluate Web Accessibility  - "This article is designed to help users who are new to JAWS learn the basic controls for testing web content, and to serve as a reference for the occasional JAWS user." --WebAIM.org
    • Freedom Scientific JAWS 15 Downloads - Download a temporary free trial of JAWS (or use JAWS supplied by your department if applicable).
  • NVDA
    • Using NVDA to Evaluate Web Accessibility - "This article is designed to help users who are new to NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) learn the basic controls for testing web content, and to serve as a reference for the occasional NVDA user." --WebAim.org
    • NV Access Free NVDA Screen Reader -Download to get started on testing.
  • VoiceOver (built-in feature for Mac computers.)
    • Using VoiceOver to Evaluate Web Accessibility - "This article is designed to help users who are new to VoiceOver learn the basic controls for testing web content, and to serve as a reference for the occasional VoiceOver user." --WebAIM.org  
• Toolbars
  • Web Developer Toolbar
    • Web Developer Toolbar - This toolbar is not specifically aimed at testing accessibility, however there are useful resources for use within Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. 

Checklist

• WebAIM's WCAG 2 Checklist - The checklist presented by WebAIM, is helpful to follow when manually testing for accessibility.