How can you test web accessibility for users with visual impairments?

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Web accessibility is the practice of making websites usable and accessible for people with different abilities and needs, such as visual impairments. Testing web accessibility for users with visual impairments is an important part of software testing, as it ensures that your website is compliant with web standards, ethical principles, and legal requirements. In this article, you will learn some basic steps and tools to test web accessibility for users with visual impairments.

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Stephen Platten

Award Winning Passionate Tester & QA ??| Embracing & Advocating Stoicism | Principal Consultant @ Inspired Testing |…

1 Understand the challenges

Users with visual impairments may face various challenges when accessing websites, such as low vision, color blindness, blindness, or light sensitivity. These challenges may affect their ability to read text, see images, navigate menus, fill forms, or interact with dynamic elements. To test web accessibility for users with visual impairments, you need to understand their challenges and how they use assistive technologies, such as screen readers, magnifiers, or keyboard shortcuts.

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Ahtisham Ilyas

Top Software Testing Voice | Software Test Engineer | Automation Specialist: Web, Mobile, API | Scrum Fundamental Certified
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One thing I’ve found helpful is utilizing real-world scenarios with actual users who have visual impairments; this provides genuine feedback. Actually, I disagree with solely relying on automated tools; while they can catch many issues, the real experience of visually impaired users can't be replicated by machines. An example I’ve seen is when a website was deemed accessible by tools, but users with color blindness struggled with certain color contrasts which the tools missed. Thus, it’s essential to combine tool-based checks with real user testing to ensure complete accessibility.

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2 Use web accessibility guidelines

Web accessibility guidelines are a set of standards and best practices that provide recommendations and criteria for making websites accessible for users with different disabilities. The most widely used web accessibility guidelines are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The WCAG have four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Each principle has several guidelines and success criteria that you can use to test web accessibility for users with visual impairments.

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Ahtisham Ilyas

Top Software Testing Voice | Software Test Engineer | Automation Specialist: Web, Mobile, API | Scrum Fundamental Certified
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One thing I’ve found helpful is the consistent application of the WCAG guidelines throughout the development process. Starting with these principles early on reduces retrofitting efforts later. Actually, I disagree with the notion that simply meeting WCAG criteria ensures full accessibility; real-world testing and continuous feedback from users with disabilities are crucial. An example I’ve seen is a website that met all WCAG success criteria but still had navigation challenges for screen reader users, highlighting the need for combining guidelines with actual user experience feedback.

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3 Perform manual testing

Manual testing is the process of testing web accessibility by using the website as a user with visual impairments would. You can perform manual testing by using different browsers, devices, and assistive technologies, such as screen readers, magnifiers, or keyboard shortcuts. You can also use tools like WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker or NoCoffee Vision Simulator to simulate different visual impairments and check how your website looks and functions. Manual testing can help you identify issues that automated testing may miss, such as readability, usability, or user experience.

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4 Perform automated testing

Automated testing is the process of testing web accessibility by using tools that scan your website and identify accessibility issues based on web accessibility guidelines. Automated testing can help you save time and resources, as well as detect errors that manual testing may overlook, such as code quality, compatibility, or performance. Some examples of automated testing tools are axe, WAVE, or Lighthouse. However, automated testing cannot replace manual testing, as it cannot evaluate subjective aspects of web accessibility, such as design, content, or context.

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5 Involve users with visual impairments

One of the best ways to test web accessibility for users with visual impairments is to involve them in the testing process. Users with visual impairments can provide valuable feedback and insights on how your website meets their needs and expectations, as well as suggest improvements and solutions. You can involve users with visual impairments by conducting user research, surveys, interviews, or usability testing. You can also recruit users with visual impairments from online platforms, such as UserTesting, Loop11, or AccessWorks.

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Stephen Platten

Award Winning Passionate Tester & QA ??| Embracing & Advocating Stoicism | Principal Consultant @ Inspired Testing | The Stoic Tester |
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For me the most valuable type we can do. Regardless of the tools, approach etc it won't beat having real users use it. Help them to test and they can help you understand their needs.

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6 Follow up and improve

Testing web accessibility for users with visual impairments is not a one-time task, but an ongoing process that requires follow-up and improvement. You need to monitor and evaluate the results of your testing, as well as implement and document the changes and fixes that you make. You also need to keep up with the latest web accessibility standards, trends, and technologies, as well as the feedback and needs of your users. By following up and improving, you can ensure that your website is accessible, usable, and enjoyable for users with visual impairments.

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7 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?

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How can you test web accessibility for users with visual impairments?

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1 Understand the challenges

2 Use web accessibility guidelines

3 Perform manual testing

4 Perform automated testing

5 Involve users with visual impairments

6 Follow up and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Software Testing

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How can you test web accessibility for users with visual impairments?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understand the challenges

2 Use web accessibility guidelines

3 Perform manual testing

4 Perform automated testing

5 Involve users with visual impairments

6 Follow up and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Software Testing

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