Why To The Accessibility Testing Matters

Modern software must be safe, reliable, and accessible to different groups of people. Since the world’s population of people with disabilities exceeds 1.3 billion, digital product developers must take this fact into account and make efforts to release highly accessible and user-friendly applications or programs.

However, creating any software is impossible without thorough and detailed testing. The product can probably be used by people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments. Building accessible web systems can help certain categories of people and significantly increase a business’s profitability and success.

Below, you will learn more about accessibility testing’s role and the main tasks that it must perform.

What Is Accessibility Testing and What Metrics Should It Achieve?

There are many types and methodologies for software quality assurance. Accessibility testing is one of the main ones you should consider.

It involves evaluating programs and applications based on their usability by people with disabilities and multiple health impairments. Various practices and tools can be used to ensure that the software is equally convenient and understandable to people with limited abilities.

When developing and testing digital products for accessibility, IT professionals should follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines contain a comprehensive list of recommendations that should be considered.

According to the document, accessibility testing should ensure the release of a product that is:

It is easy to manage. Anyone can find the features and options of the application or program they need, enter the captcha, and navigate the software.
Understandable. Every digital product should have clear instructions, contain only structured and concise information, and avoid misunderstandings or jargon.
Reliable. Most programs should be well-compatible with other products that help people navigate the functionality and content. They should integrate with Braille displays and similar technologies.
Accessible. Everyone should be able to receive the information presented in a way that is accessible to them. For example, images should contain explanatory text, while videos should have captions.

Accessibility testing should accompany the entire development process and not just be involved in the final phase.

Overview of Why Accessibility Testing Is Important

First, accessibility testing aims to ensure that software is accessible to all categories of people without exception. In addition, it takes care of the ethical side of the issue and affects business revenues. Timely and systematic accessibility testing allows you to achieve many benefits. Here is a brief overview of the main ones.

Avoiding Costly Fixes

Many people with disabilities cannot use most digital products due to their inaccessibility. Releasing software that meets their requirements and expectations can significantly expand market share and help people feel free. However, detailed product planning is the foundation. You cannot create quality software for people with disabilities without thinking it through in detail. If you develop the program and test it in stages, you can avoid fixes in the final phases that usually involve high waste of time and money.

Maximum Regulatory Compliance

Most countries require developers to consider the needs of people with disabilities when releasing new software. Failure to comply can result in fines and prosecution by authorities. Accessibility testing helps ensure high compliance standards and reduces the likelihood of legal sanctions.

Ensuring a Better User Experience

Anyone can use accessible software, which will, in most cases, lead to widespread popularity and success of the project. When testing the product, ensure it has voice navigation, screen reading, keyboard navigation, and screen magnification functions. Most of the options will also be useful to other categories of people.

Reaching a Wider Audience

Many people with disabilities have a computer or at least a smartphone. However, they have limited access to many digital products. By releasing highly accessible and reliable software, you will gain thousands of users who will invest in business development and coverage of a significant part of the market. Together, they may significantly improve profitability.

Promoting Continuous Improvement of Software

Accessibility testing involves using various techniques, methods, and tools to evaluate the product more thoroughly and broadly. At the same time, these techniques help test other features of the software more deeply, constantly improving its quality and reliability.

Developing accessible digital products is a flawed problem that needs to be addressed. Accessibility testing is an indispensable companion to the creation process, contributing to the release of high-quality and secure software.