Web Accessibility Testing
Accessibility checkers and WCAG compliance tools are valuable helpers but not perfect solutions for ensuring full accessibility. WAVE is a good example of a free browser-based tool.
WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
Here's why tools should be viewed as aids rather than definitive answers:
Why They’re Helpers
- Automated Testing Only Identifies Some Issues
- Tools can efficiently detect technical violations, such as missing alt text, low contrast, or improper heading structure.
- However, many accessibility issues are context-dependent, requiring human judgment (e.g., whether the alt text is meaningful or a video conveys all necessary information).
- Limited to Pre-Defined Rules
- These tools evaluate websites based on specific WCAG criteria, but accessibility also involves usability, and the overall user experience, which automated tools can’t fully measure.
- False Positives and Negatives
- Some issues flagged by tools might not impact accessibility, leading to false positives.
- Conversely, tools might miss nuanced issues, such as whether interactive elements are operable with assistive technologies like screen readers or keyboard navigation.
- Dynamic Content Challenges
- Automated checkers may struggle to analyze content generated dynamically (e.g., JavaScript-heavy sites or real-time updates) unless explicitly tested.
- Diverse User Needs
- Accessibility involves accommodating a wide range of disabilities, such as visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. Tools often focus on general technical compliance and might not address specific user needs.
Why Human Review is Essential
- Contextual Understanding
- Only humans can assess whether content is clear, meaningful, and usable for diverse audiences.
- For example, ensuring that complex charts or infographics have accurate and comprehensive descriptions.
- Usability Testing
- Accessibility is about more than compliance. Real users with disabilities should test the site to identify barriers that tools can’t detect, like confusing navigation or inadequate focus indicators.
- Creative and Design Decisions
- A human reviewer ensures that accessibility solutions align with design goals and enhance the user experience rather than simply checking boxes for compliance.
Best Practices
- Combine Automated and Manual Testing: Use tools for efficiency and humans for judgment and usability.
- Follow WCAG Principles: Focus on the POUR principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—rather than just tool outputs.
Accessibility tools are indispensable for quickly highlighting common issues, but they’re just the first step in creating a truly accessible and inclusive experience. Please remember that Academic Quality Assurance is here to assist you with interpreting and reviewing for web accessibility. UAGC faculty, for a full external webpage review, please use the Jira ticketing system.