Accessible Websites & Web Apps

Preparing to Test for Accessibility

Components of an Accessibility Test

  1. Visual Navigation
  2. Non-Visual Navigation with a screen reader
  3. Alternate Visual Access (low vision/colorblind)
  4. Usability (cognitive/learning disability)
  5. Audio/Video Access
  6. Mobile Devices and Responsive Design
  7. Downloadable Files


Testing Tools Needed

  • Keyboard
  • Automated testing using WAVE Toolbar, Siteimprove browser plugin or other browser extension
  • Screen reader (and knowledge of how it works). Examples include: JAWS, NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac) and Narrator (Windows)
  • Text Spacing Bookmarklet
  • Resize Window Browser Extension
  • Color contrast check using Color Contrast Analyser or comparable
  • Mobile device testing using browser dev tools device simulator or comparable
  • Testing of other AT devices such as Dragon Dictate, Switch activation, one handed keyboard, Voiceover on a tablet and ZoomText via equipment available on loan through Missouri Assistive Technology’s Accessibility Testing Kit (device loan program). Available December 2024.

Step 1: Pre-Test Planning: Web Accessibility Testing Checklist

What portions of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) apply to your website/application?

Step 2: Documenting Your Test – Web Accessibility Evaluation Report

How can I record my accessibility findings to share with those who complete the accessibility remediation?

Testing Tips

  • Build web accessibility testing early in to your development process and ongoing maintenance.
  • Keep in mind, automated tools catch about 30-50% of accessibility errors. Using automated tools coupled with manual testing is required.
  • Become familiar with implementing the standards:

Testing Tools

  • Test with automated web accessibility toolbars to catch some of the errors. These will typically catch anywhere from 30-50% of the errors, sometimes more. Ensure you get “Errors” down to zero and review alerts as well.
  • Use a disability simulator that helps designers ensure that their content and applications are accessible and usable by the visually impaired. aDesigner is a tool that web authors can use to ensure that the webpages they create are accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. aDesigner disability simulator
  • The Paciello Group offers resources for testing an inclusive design groups. The Paciello Group
  • JAWSInspect – This is a fee based checker to simplify testing for screenreader accessibility, without using a screen reader.

Mobile Accessibility

Assistive Technology

Testing web sites and applications using assistive technologies offers you a lot of benefits. You get to learn some of the tools that people with disabilities use to navigate technology, which is incredibly informative. You also get better insight into the true, functional accessibility of the site or application.

Visit our  Users & Technology page to learn more about assistive technology. 

Want a demonstration of what IS and is NOT an accessible web page?

Here are websites that show the differences, both in presentation and in structure, between accessible and inaccessible web pages. Use these to practice your website accessibility testing and experiment with different AT devices.

  • Accessible University
  • W3C

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