What tools can you use to evaluate mobile app accessibility?

2 Accessibility scanners

One of the easiest ways to check your app's accessibility is to use a scanner tool that can automatically detect and report potential issues. These tools can scan your app's user interface and code and highlight areas that may need improvement, such as contrast, color, text size, labels, navigation, and touch targets. Some examples of accessibility scanner tools are the Accessibility Scanner for Android, the Accessibility Inspector for iOS, and the axe DevTools for web and hybrid apps. These tools can help you identify and fix common accessibility problems, but they cannot cover all aspects of accessibility. Therefore, you should always complement them with manual testing and user feedback.

3 Accessibility emulators

Another way to evaluate your app's accessibility is to use an emulator tool that can simulate how your app looks and behaves for different users. These tools can help you experience your app from the perspective of people with different abilities, such as vision, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments. For example, the Chrome DevTools can emulate various vision deficiencies, such as blurred vision, color blindness, or low vision. The Android Accessibility Test Framework can emulate different input modes, such as switch access, keyboard navigation, or voice control. The iOS Simulator can emulate different accessibility features, such as VoiceOver, Zoom, or AssistiveTouch. These tools can help you empathize with your users and discover potential usability issues.

4 Accessibility audits

Conducting an audit is a more comprehensive way to evaluate your app's accessibility. This involves a systematic review of your app's design, code, and functionality against a set of criteria and standards. An audit can help you measure your app's level of accessibility, identify gaps and opportunities, and provide recommendations and solutions. You may choose to perform the audit yourself or hire a professional accessibility consultant or agency. The steps involved in an audit include defining the scope, goals, and methods; selecting the tools, platforms, and devices to use for testing; reviewing the app's design and code for accessibility issues; testing the app's functionality and performance with different accessibility features and tools; and documenting and reporting the findings and suggestions.

5 Accessibility feedback

The final and most important way to evaluate your app's accessibility is to get feedback from real users who have different abilities and preferences. User feedback can help you validate your assumptions, understand your users' needs and expectations, and improve your app's usability and satisfaction. You can collect user feedback through various methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or usability testing. You can also use tools and platforms that can help you recruit, communicate, and collaborate with users with disabilities, such as UserTesting, Loop11, or AccessWorks. User feedback can help you create an app that is not only accessible, but also inclusive and engaging.