4 Simple Tests to Help You Find Out If Your Website is Accessible

What comes to mind when you hear the term web accessibility? Chances are you associate it with having no access to a smartphone, a desktop, or a reliable internet connection. However, there’s more to web access than that.  

Learn more about web accessibility here and check out a few simple accessibility tests that anyone can perform.

What Is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites, tools, and other technologies for every person online. With a barrier-free user experience, you can ensure that all users navigating the web have access to your content, regardless of their physical and cognitive abilities, literacy, and digital skills.  

Remember the four main principles of web accessibility using the acronym POUR: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. 

• Perceivable – Your web content and design must communicate information effectively to the user, regardless of their sensory abilities. It should be easy for your users to see or hear your content. 
• Operable – Navigation must be easy for everyone. You shouldn’t require web interactions that some users can’t carry out.  
• Understandable – The information on your site must be readable and understandable.  
• Robust – To ensure barrier-free access to your content, users should also be able to interpret it using assistive technologies. 

4 Easy Web Accessibility Tests

How do you evaluate the accessibility of your web page design, content, and structure? Here are a few quick and easy tests that you can perform to determine if your website has accessibility issues. 

1. Zoom in on a web page

Can you zoom in on your website to 200%? Observe what happens to the layout and content of your website. Does the text get blurry when zoomed in, or does it overlap with other text?  

People with limited vision may want to zoom in to your web content for easier reading. Although the zoom feature is your browser’s responsibility, it is up to the developers to ensure that the code doesn’t interfere with the default settings.  

2. Navigate your website without a mouse

Access your website without using a mouse. Perform different functions using only keyboard controls. For instance, pressing the Tab key should take you through every element on the page. It shouldn’t skip to the end. 

Some people with physical disabilities can’t use the mouse, so it must be navigable and usable without it.  

3. Pause, mute, or adjust the volume of media content

Try adjusting the volume of the videos on your website. People who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing may have difficulty determining how loud your videos are, especially those that play automatically. Users must be able to pause, stop, or mute all media content on your website.  

4. Turn off images

Disable images on your browser, then ask yourself if the content still makes sense. Your website should be accessible to users who are blind or have limited vision. By using alt text, people who use assistive technologies will also be able to understand the images on your web pages. 

Is Your Website Accessible to Everyone?

ADA Web Accessibility is here to help you create a website that accommodates everyone. Our fully automated web accessibility solution ensures ADA compliance. By prioritizing web accessibility, you can gain more opportunities to expand your customer base while protecting your brand from costly fines and lawsuits.