How can you make your WCAG testing more efficient?

1 Choose the right tools

When selecting WCAG testing tools, you need to consider your needs, budget, and skill level. Automated testing tools can save time and effort, but they cannot detect all accessibility issues. Manual testing tools can help identify issues missed by automated tools, but they require more time and expertise. User testing tools allow you to collect feedback from real users with disabilities or assistive technologies. These can help understand the needs of your target audience and discover any usability or accessibility problems. All three types of tools should be used in combination with the WCAG documentation and techniques, as part of an iterative design and development process that involves users from the start.

2 Plan your testing strategy

Before you start testing your website, you need to have a clear plan and strategy for your WCAG testing process. This will help you avoid wasting time and resources, and ensure that you cover all the aspects and levels of WCAG compliance. You should begin by defining the scope of your testing, selecting the appropriate tools, and setting the standards for compliance. When defining the scope, prioritize the most important and frequently used parts of your website, and test them more thoroughly and regularly. Consider the diversity and complexity of your website content and functionality when selecting tools. Aim for at least level AA compliance, which is the minimum requirement for most laws and regulations. Additionally, follow the latest version of WCAG (currently WCAG 2.1), and keep up with the updates and changes. Familiarize yourself with the features and functions of the tools you select, learn how to use them effectively and efficiently, and compare results from different tools to verify their accuracy and consistency.

3 Test early and often

Testing your website early and often is one of the best ways to make your WCAG testing more efficient. This will help you identify and fix any accessibility issues quickly, as well as ensure that your website meets user expectations and needs. There are numerous benefits to testing early and often, such as avoiding assumptions and errors that may affect the website's accessibility, reducing the risk of missing or overlooking any accessibility issues, improving usability and performance, and saving time and money. Additionally, testing early and often can help you deliver a high-quality and accessible product, improve user satisfaction and loyalty, and optimize your resources and efforts.

4 Document and report your results

Making your WCAG testing more efficient can be achieved by documenting and reporting your results in a clear and comprehensive manner. This will not only help you keep track of your progress and achievements, but also communicate them to stakeholders and clients. Furthermore, it will allow you to evaluate and improve your WCAG testing process, as well as identify any gaps or areas for improvement. When documenting and reporting your results, use a consistent and standardized format that includes all the relevant information like scope, tools, standards, methods, results, and recommendations. Additionally, use a clear and concise language that avoids jargon or technical terms that may confuse or mislead your audience. Visual aids such as screenshots, graphs, charts, tables, or videos can also be used to show your results and findings. Lastly, create a feedback loop to collect feedback from your audience on your documentation and reports and make any necessary adjustments or corrections.

5 Learn from best practices

Finally, you can make your WCAG testing more efficient by learning from best practices and examples of other websites that have achieved WCAG compliance and accessibility. For instance, you can use WCAG showcases to browse websites that have met or exceeded the standards and observe how they applied the principles and guidelines. Additionally, you can read WCAG case studies to gain a detailed understanding of how websites have improved accessibility and quality. Furthermore, joining WCAG communities can connect you with other practitioners and experts, so that you can learn from their experiences and insights. All in all, these sources and resources can be used as inspiration and reference for your own website, as well as help you avoid making the same mistakes or pitfalls.