Accessibility Testing with Chrome

Accessibility testing is an important part of software testing that makes software accessible and user-friendly to everyone, including people with disabilities. Users should be able to use an application with the different available browsers. Therefore, accessibility testing is done to ensure that an application functions the same across different browsers, including the most popular, Chrome, for all users, including people with disabilities like visual disability, hearing disability, learning disability, or non-functional organs.

We will explore different aspects of accessibility testing with Chrome and other browsers and the available tools for successful implementation. These can help testers and developers create a user-friendly product for people with disabilities.

What Is Accessibility Testing?

Accessibility testing, alternatively referred to as web accessibility testing, evaluates a website against the ease with which every user can access the respective application and use it. It is a part of usability testing that focuses on how effective websites are at meeting different user requirements.

This is further comprised of testing usability in terms of understanding, navigation, and interaction on the website in the context of users with disabilities. The design of a web accessibility test gives essential insight and shapes better future designs that make websites friendly for all users, regardless of their abilities.

Why Do Accessibility Testing?

In this section, we will be going through why accessibility testing is important.

  • Legal compliance

The American Disability Act (ADA) in the United States and the European Accessibility Act (EAA) require that websites/applications be available to all users, including people with disabilities. Not following these acts can result in legal issues and potential lawsuits.

  • Inclusive user experience

An application should be created and developed in such a way that anyone may use it without difficulty. There are technologies that help in the development of applications for everyone, including people having difficulties in hearing, vision, etc.

Let’s discuss some of them:

  • Screen Readers: These tools read aloud the content displayed on a screen. They’re essential for individuals with visual difficulties.
  • Magnification Software: This type of software increases the size of content, making it easier for users with vision problems to read text and view images.
  • Braille Displays: These devices convert digital text into Braille, allowing blind users to read content through touch. They’re often used with screen readers.
  • Text-to-Speech (TTS) Software: TTS tools read text aloud, helping users with visual impairments.
  • Better user experience

By making software accessible, you improve the overall user experience. Features like easy navigation, clear content structure, and alternative text for images benefit all users.

  • Positive brand image

Demonstrating a commitment to this aspect of accessibility enhances the reputation of your brand. It shows that an organization values inclusivity and social responsibility, influencing public perception and enhancing continued loyalty to the brand.

  • Competitive advantage

You differentiate your product in the market through accessible software. Giving an inclusive experience will set you apart and give you a competitive advantage.

Examples of Accessibility Testing

Here are some examples of accessibility tests:

Check color contrast:

  • To ensure text meets WCAG criteria for normal and large text.
  • Improves readability for those with visual impairments

Text alternatives (alt text):

  • Check that photos have the correct alt attributes or aria-labels.
  • Alt text adds context for users who are unable to view the photos directly.

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) Testing:

  • Check that ARIA roles and attributes are properly assigned to interactive components (buttons, form controls, and live areas).
  • Improves the screen reader experience for people with visual impairments.

Keyboard accessibility:

  • Use only your keyboard to navigate the website or app (for example, the “Tab” key).
  • Test keyboard shortcuts for links, buttons, and form controls.

How Do I Do Accessibility Testing?

There are basically two methods to do accessibility testing: automated testing and manual testing. Automated accessibility testing uses specialized software to examine websites and identify typical impediments that may affect people with impairments. Manual testing, on the other hand, is carried out by testers who interact with the website and generate detailed findings based on their actual experience. Let’s discuss it in detail:

Manual Accessibility Testing:

Manual testing involves human testers actively interacting with an application or website using assistive technologies. They simulate disabled users’ experiences in order to uncover accessibility concerns.

Process:

  • Testers use screen readers to go through the content and listen out loud to the information on the screen.
  • Testers can use high-contrast mode to highlight the website’s content. Simply navigate to high-contrast mode using the search box or options. Choose the high-contrast theme from the drop-down menu.
  • Testers check if the image is accessible through alt text.

In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Settings > Site Settings. While scrolling down, you should see the “Image” tab. Click on it, and you’ll see under the Default Behavior section there is a “Don’t allow sites to show images.”. This will disable images and replace them with alt text.

  • Testers assess keyboard navigation, ensuring that all interactive elements (buttons, links, and forms) can be accessed and operated using only the keyboard. Testers try to navigate through the website using the “Tab” key to move the focus between links and interactive elements. Use “Tab” + “Shift” to move the focus backward to where you were previously. After browsing around the web with your keyboard, testers have a better understanding of whether the functionality and content can be accessed and operated using keyboard navigation alone, benefiting users who may have difficulty using a mouse.
  • Visual inspection helps find issues related to color contrast, font size, and layout. Testers verify if the content remains readable and does not happen to be distorted or lose functionality on the website with the font size set to “large” or increased in size. Most users use the Ctrl and +/- shortcut to zoom in/out on Windows or the ⌘with +/- for Mac.

Automated Accessibility Testing

Automated tools check web pages for common accessibility concerns using specified rules. These tools offer a quick overview of potential issues.

Process:

  • Tools examine HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for accessibility problems (e.g., WCAG).
  • They look for missing alt text, incorrect heading structure, color contrast concerns, and more.
  • Automated tools provide reports with a list of issues and their severity.

Tools for Accessibility Testing

Accessibility testing tools are specialized software that tests and ensures that websites and applications are accessible to people with impairments. These tools help developers find accessibility issues, allowing them to create inclusive experiences while following accessibility standards like WCAG. Let us learn more about each accessibility testing tool.

LambdaTest Accessibility DevTools

An AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform, LambdaTest, lets you run manual and automated tests at scale with over 3000+ browsers and OS combinations. It also offers tools for accessibility testing. Using its Accessibility DevTools, you can easily ensure online accessibility by allowing testers to check functionality and UI against accessibility testing standards and report accessibility issues. With this DevTool Chrome extension, you can do a full page scan, which assesses whole web pages, and a partial page scan, which focuses on specific accessibility issues.

The Accessibility DevTools dashboard provides a full summary and breakdown of your website’s performance, allowing you to discover and address any accessibility issues.

You can also run tests using Selenium ChromeDriver on desktop browsers.

Accessibility Inspector

Fujitsu developed the Accessibility Inspector, a desktop application accessibility testing tool. This multinational technology corporation offers unique solutions and services ranging from IT consultancy to hardware and software development. They specialize in assisting firms with technological transformation, tackling a wide range of digital challenges and opportunities. Let’s see the key components:

Web Accessibility Inspector:

  • Purpose: Confirms the accessibility of a website.
  • Functionality: Evaluates adherence to accessibility criteria (e.g., WCAG).
  • Consider aspects like alt text for images, semantic markup, and keyboard navigation.

ColorSelector:

  • Purpose: Evaluates color combinations for readability.
  • Functionality: Analyzes background and text color.
  • Makes pages easier to read for all users.
  • Importance: This is especially significant for those with visual impairments.

JAWS

JAWS is a critical component of accessibility testing tools. It functions as a screen reader application, attempting to make digital content accessible to people with visual impairments. The name “Jobs Access With Speech” clearly conveys its objective. By integrating voice capability, JAWS makes it easier to read emails, scan PDFs, and fill out forms, providing a more inclusive digital experience.

This accessibility tool offers support for all browsers, including Chrome, and seamless compatibility with the Windows operating system. Also, JAWS has a quick reading capability, enabling users to access information quickly and save time.

AXE

AXE is an efficient web accessibility testing extension created to automate website testing and produce compliant reports. It is useful for identifying accessibility errors in the code and providing insightful recommendations for easy issue resolution. This time-saving extension can be used with browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

To enhance the automation capabilities of the AXE accessibility tool, consider using it with LambdaTest. This integration allows you to utilize AXE’s capabilities within your tests, enabling you to perform thorough content scans and generate comprehensive accessibility (a11y) scores.

Google Lighthouse

Lighthouse by Google is an extensive tool for testing accessibility, offering automated solutions for assessments. It is designed for both technical and non-technical users, providing flexibility in configuration and usage.

As a pre-installed Chrome extension, Lighthouse is easily accessible for conducting accessibility tests on local websites and authorized pages. This tool ensures convenience and accessibility in various testing environments.

Conclusion

Testing accessibility is very important in the process of software development. Its essence lies in making sure that all users have an opportunity to use the applications, even those with any form of disability. It helps the developer note possible problems that may be brought about by an application for users with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor disabilities. This not only aligns with legal standards set around the world but also makes for a more socially inclusive digital environment.

Making products accessible allows a business to differentiate itself within the marketplace and creates a competitive advantage, securing larger numbers of users. Overall, testing accessibility is more than just a legal obligation; it combines strategic benefits to craft a more inclusive and friendly digital landscape.