Accessibility testing services
Why is accessibility testing so vital?
WHO reports that 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, have significant disabilities.
Accessibility testing is not merely a “nice-to-have” step in the software development lifecycle. It’s a fundamental practice guaranteeing that digital experiences are inclusive and accessible to everyone, including people with visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, and neurodivergent needs.
Law compliance
Having conducted accessibility testing, companies can guarantee conformity with multiple regulations and prevent fines or lawsuits for failing to provide accessible digital content.
Superior customer journeys
Accessibility testing identifies potential barriers and ensures that users can easily navigate software, leading to higher engagement and more enjoyable experiences for everyone.
Brand perception
Businesses that prioritize accessibility stand out in a crowded market, signifying that they commit to corporate social responsibility and value diversity.
Greater reach
By ensuring accessibility, companies tap into a broader customer base, increasing their market reach and the chance that users will return and recommend their products to others.
Industries where accessibility testing matters the most
Given the numerous benefits of both web accessibility testing and accessibility testing for mobile apps, industries that provide essential services and handle sensitive data have an even greater responsibility to ensure their digital platforms are convenient to all users:
Government and public sector
Banking and financial services
Healthcare
Transportation
Travel and hospitality
eLearning and education
eCommerce
Media and entertainment
Telecommunications
Accessibility testing strategy we follow
We rigorously test your software against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other international standards to ensure that its digital content is:
Perceivable
We evaluate whether users can clearly discern and process information on a website or application using standard browsing or assistive technologies.
Operable
We help confirm that users can effectively navigate the website or application and engage with them via multiple input devices and methods.
Understandable
We ensure that the user interface is intuitive and consistent, making it easy for everyone to understand and work with it. This allows companies to improve accessibility by reducing confusion and enhancing clarity.
Robust
We test whether a website or application functions smoothly across all devices and technologies, including desktop browsers, mobile phones, and assistive tools. We focus on building the best experiences that are designed to last.
Accessibility regulations we validate software against
What we check during accessibility testing
Manual testing
- Keyboard-only navigation
- Screen reader compatibility
- Error messages and error prevention
- Distinguishable links
- Accuracy of text alternatives
- The meaningful sequence of content
- Audio descriptions and captions
- Text resizing and zooming, and more
Automated testing
- Page titles
- Hierarchical heading structure
- Presence of text alternatives
- Empty links
- Color contrast
- Form labels
- HTML page language and attributes, and more
We are proficient in cutting-edge accessibility testing tools
What our clients say
Obstacles driving companies to turn to independent QA
Limited internal expertise
Without an understanding of accessibility standards and local regulations, deep technical knowledge, and proficiency in specific testing tools, companies fail to properly test their IT products for accessibility and risk lawsuits, user churn, reputational issues, and increased costs.
Lack of test automation
Inefficient or absent test automation can lead to software release delays or extended release cycles, compliance issues, degraded software quality, increased development costs, and excessive strain on internal QA teams.
Frequent releases
Failing to support regular software rollouts and refine the delivery strategy to address accessibility issues can lead to inadequate testing coverage, poor user experience in the delivered software, costly post-release fixes, and even accumulation of accessibility debt.
Inconsistent testing across platforms
Difficulty to ensure consistent accessibility across different browsers, OSs, and assistive technologies can result in overlooked critical issues preventing users with disabilities to benefit from an inclusive digital experience.
Why a1qa?
Optimized workflows
We leverage an automated testing approach whenever possible (from AI-powered testing to integrating test automation into CI/CD pipelines) to speed up results delivery and help our clients meet tight release deadlines.
A tailored approach
We understand that no two businesses are the same, which is why we align our QA services and solutions to our clients’ specific requirements, technology stack, industry standards, and project goals.
Risk mitigation
We develop a well-structured QA strategy and shift testing left to conduct thorough accessibility testing, thus preventing costly fixes, legal liabilities, and negative user feedback.
Quick project start
We need only 2 weeks to identify business objectives, craft a robust testing strategy with the scope, requirements, risks, and deliverables outlined, and assign a dedicated team or an individual to meet our clients’ unique objectives.
Focus on end users
We place the experience of our clients’ users with disabilities at the heart of accessibility testing services, helping companies deliver inclusive digital experiences that are easy to navigate, functional, and enjoyable for everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Accessibility testing can involve both manual and automated checks for keyboard-only navigation, screen reader compatibility, color contrast, error messages, text alternatives, and more. Accessibility testers also follow guidelines like WCAG and ADA to make sure software is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
Yes. Accessibility testing helps detect issues that can otherwise lead to lawsuits, fines, or negative publicity if discovered after the release. Fixing problems early also allows companies to prevent costly reworks and avoid user churn due to poor usability.
With over a billion people worldwide living with some kind of disability, ensuring digital accessibility allows companies to create inclusive user journeys. Businesses that leverage mobile, desktop, and website accessibility testing software benefit from better brand reputation, reach more users, and deliver superior customer experiences.
Accessibility checks should happen ongoingly across the entire development lifespan, not just at a final stage. They should be embedded into deployment schedules, utilizing automated tools for each build alongside human audits at critical intervals. Doing so helps guarantee that new additions or modifications don’t compromise inclusive design as time goes on.
ADA acts as a legal mandate banning discrimination against individuals with disabilities in digital spaces, whereas WCAG offers a technical framework for creating accessible software. Thus, ADA establishes the legal goal, while WCAG outlines practical steps through clear design and engineering benchmarks.
This standard establishes three layers of compliance: A (essential access), AA (intermediate, addressing frequent and significant barriers), and AAA (the maximum level involving stricter criteria). Our aim is to test against the AA level as it offers a solid middle ground for inclusivity and is the standard generally cited in legal and professional frameworks.
We gauge screen reader integration, external keyboard use, gesture control, and built-in accessibility settings for both ecosystems, detecting obstacles that occur across different devices or OSs to provide a seamless result.
This type of testing evaluates if a user can successfully operate software with only a keyboard rather than relying on a mouse or tactile input. It involves validating the focus hierarchy, the presence of focus indicators, and the ability to trigger all interactive components using keyboard paths. This type of testing is essential since a lot of users, including those with limited mobility, depend on these controls to use digital interfaces effectively.
We leverage WCAG standards, utilizing automated scanners alongside manual reviews to guarantee legibility throughout the UI. We also model various color vision impairments to ensure that information stays clear and functional for every individual.
We can do it but only assuming files feature a solid architecture with tags, reading sequences, and image descriptions. The process entails validating screen reader performance and checking features against WCAG. For documents without a defined structure, remediation is needed to achieve full compliance with accessibility requirements and usability.