Accessibility Testing: Why It’s Essential, What to Fix, and How to Succeed

Software Testing

Accessibility Testing: Why It’s Essential, What to Fix, and How to Succeed

Anushree Jaiswal

April 15, 2025

Accessibility: Turning Barriers into Bridges

Introduction

Imagine landing on a site where text fades into the background, navigation needs a mouse, videos lack captions, and forms block sign-ups. Frustrating? For over 1 billion people with disabilities, it's a daily reality.

For 1 billion people with disabilities (WHO), these barriers exclude them from digital services. Accessibility testing ensures your site works for everyone, boosting SEO, loyalty, and compliance. Here’s how to do it right.

Why Accessibility Matters

26% of U.S. adults have disabilities (CDC), yet 96% of websites fail accessibility (WebAIM), locking users out of healthcare, shopping, and more.

What’s at Stake — and Why You Should Care:

Reach: Include aging users and low-bandwidth visitors.
SEO: Alt text lifts Google rankings by 50%.
Legal: 4,000+ ADA lawsuits hit businesses in 2024, with e-commerce at 77%.
Trust: Inclusive design retains customers.

Accessibility isn’t just good ethics — it’s good business. For example, Target’s 2018 accessibility overhaul cut complaints and boosted conversions 15%.

What Is Accessibility Testing?

It ensures websites, apps, and content are usable by all, covering:

Visual: Screen readers, high contrast.
Hearing: Captions, transcripts.
Motor: Keyboard navigation.
Cognitive: Clear layouts.

Top 6 Common Accessibility Pitfalls (and How to Fix Them Right)

Based on data from 2,000+ audits at Genesis Technologies:

Missing Alt Text
Issue: “image.jpg” confuses screen readers.
Fix: Use “Healthy Eating Advisory Services”
Developer: Add <img alt="description">.
Poor Color Contrast
Issue: Gray-on-white text hides content.
Fix: Ensure 4.5:1 contrast ratio using tools like WebAIM’s Checker.
Inaccessible Forms
Issue: Unlabeled fields break screen readers.
Fix: Label all fields with <label for="id"> and test using NVDA.
No Keyboard Navigation
Issue: Small text or buttons frustrate users.
Fix: Support 400% zoom and responsive layouts using CSS media queries.
Videos Without Captions
Issue: Hearing challenging users miss audio.
Fix: Add accurate captions or transcripts. Edit YouTube’s auto-captions if needed.
Mobile Accessibility Issues
Issue: Small text or buttons frustrate users.
Fix: Support 400% zoom and responsive layouts using CSS media queries.

Tackling Accessibility Challenges

Testing isn’t easy—here’s how to overcome hurdles:

Technical: Vague WCAG guidelines can be tricky. Use WAVE or real user feedback to clarify issues.
Organizational: Manual tests slow down workflows. Automate where possible, and focus manual testing on usability.
Users: Include a variety of real users — blind, cognitively challenged, aging — to get diverse feedback.

Quote: “Vague links like ‘Click Here’ waste my time,” says Jane, a blind blogger.
Accessibility testing has hurdles — but none you can’t overcome.

Genesis Technologies’ Approach

At Genesis Technologies, we don’t just audit — we empower teams to build access-first digital experiences.

We follow WCAG 2.2 standards at A, AA, and AAA levels, offering detailed reports with:

Issue (e.g., missing alt text).
Severity (critical).
Impact (blocks users).
Fix (add <img alt="...">).

Tools used include NVDA, JAWS, and ChromeVox.

Our support spans all roles:

Developers: Semantic HTML, ARIA roles.
Designers: Contrast, zoom tests.
Managers: Budget-friendly action plans.
Testimonial: “Genesis made our site inclusive and SEO-friendly,” says John, HealthCorp CTO.
Case Study: A healthcare client cut complaints 40% after we fixed their portal.