What is the most effective way to measure accessibility efforts?

1 Why measure accessibility?

Measuring accessibility is not just about checking boxes or avoiding lawsuits. It is about ensuring that your website or app is usable and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their abilities, preferences, or devices. By measuring accessibility, you can identify and fix any barriers or issues that might prevent or frustrate your users, and enhance their experience and satisfaction. Moreover, you can also demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility and inclusion, and gain trust and loyalty from your audience.

2 How to measure accessibility?

Measuring accessibility is not a one-size-fits-all process. Depending on your goals, resources, and context, you may need to use different tools and techniques. Automated testing, manual testing, and user testing are some of the most common and effective approaches. Automated testing involves using software tools to scan for any accessibility errors or warnings. Manual testing involves checking your website or app manually with different browsers, devices, and assistive technologies. User testing involves involving real users in the testing process, and observing or interviewing them as they interact with your website or app. However, automated testing cannot catch all the accessibility problems, manual testing can be time-consuming and costly, and user testing requires ethical considerations and consent.

3 How to choose the best way to measure accessibility?

When measuring accessibility, there are several factors to consider, such as your purpose, scope, resources, and context. Depending on your purpose, you might need to use different methods or combinations of methods. When it comes to scope, you may need to prioritize or sample your content. Resources can also play a role in accessibility measurement; you may need the right tools, technologies, and testers. Finally, the characteristics and expectations of your audience, industry, and market must be taken into account in order to follow standards, regulations, or best practices. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when measuring accessibility.

4 How to use the results of your accessibility measurement?

The results of your accessibility measurement are not the end of your accessibility journey, but rather the beginning. These results can help you identify and prioritize the most critical or common accessibility issues, communicate and collaborate with your team, monitor and evaluate your progress, and learn and improve your accessibility knowledge. Furthermore, they provide an opportunity to share findings, recommendations, and feedback with stakeholders and users, as well as track your accessibility goals and metrics. Discovering new tools and techniques is also a great way to advance your accessibility journey.

5 How to measure accessibility continuously?

Accessibility is not a one-time project, but an ongoing process. As your website or app evolves and changes, so does its accessibility. Therefore, measuring accessibility continuously is essential for ensuring its accuracy. To do this, you should integrate accessibility testing into your content management lifecycle and use a combination of automated, manual, and user testing. Additionally, you should create and follow a regular schedule and frequency for your accessibility testing, as well as document and share your results and actions in an accessibility report and action plan.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?