Accessibility Testing on Real Browsers & Devices

Accessibility testing is required to make websites usable for individuals who are differently abled. They may experience some form of disability, which means they require some form of assistive technology to operate certain technology.

Examples of assistive technology would be :

– Screen readers: Converts text and images as voice or braille, necessary for visually impaired individuals.

– Speech recognition: Transforms vocal input to text.

– Screen magnification software: Zooms in on sections of the screen.

– Special keyboards: Required for easier typing by individuals with compromised motor functions.

There are a couple of significant reasons that make accessibility testing mandatory in software testing cycles:

1. According to WHO, 1 billion people live with some form of disability. A considerable portion of them accesses the internet frequently. However, if websites have not been validated by accessibility testing, these users will not be able to navigate through them properly. In fact, they will actually have to deal with a sub-par experience which will alienate them completely from that particular software.

Without accessibility testing, you will miss out on a significant section of your target audience. Your website or app should be optimized to cater to them in every way possible so that you can gain your marketing goals as well as credibility for being an inclusive organization.

2. Multiple legalizations passed by governments across the world require software to be accessible to disabled individuals. Examples of some of these laws are the Americans with Disabilities Act – 1990, the Disability Discrimination Act – 1995 (UK), Disability Discrimination Act – 1992 (Australia), Disability Act of 2005 (Ireland).

Accessibility testing is required to certify that sites are equipped with features and provisions that keep them compatible with such legal requirements. 

An easy way to run accessibility tests is to use axe, a fast and lightweight tool that checks a document against accessibility rules and guidelines, in order to generate a report that details any violations and even highlights when guidelines have been met.  Try running accessibility tests on websites with BrowserStack Automate and axe. Doing so will allow you to verify if a website complies with the WCAG and other guidelines (as verified by the axe-core library), ensuring your website is accessible to all users on the Internet. Note that all accessibility tests on BrowserStack will be run on real browsers and devices.

To learn more about running automated accessibility tests on BrowserStack Automate, have a look at Accessibility testing using axe.

It is also possible to run accessibility tests manually on BrowserStack Live. Sign up for free, choose the real browser-device duo you want to test on, and use the accessibility Screen Reader feature for non-visual navigation testing.

Accessibility testing guidelines are usually in sync with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The WCAG intends to create a singular standard that takes into account the needs of differently-abled individuals, as well as organizations and governments.

Content adhering to the WCAG must be POUR (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust).

– Perceivable: Information must be completely visible to their dominant senses.
– Operable: The UI must work on interaction that users can perform.
– Understandable: The web content and interface should be easily understood by users.
– Robust: The website should be equipped with assistive technologies to allow for maximum compatibility with users. 

These guidelines, when followed, help with making digital content as usable as possible to individuals with disabilities. In this case, web content covers everything from text, image, sounds, and the code on which the site or app structure and design is dependent.  

You can run both automated and manual accessibility testing on BrowserStack.

To run manual tests, have a look at how to use Screen Readers for Accessibility Testing.

To run automated accessibility tests, head over to Run Accessibility tests with BrowserStack Automate and axe library.

Note: All accessibility testing on the BrowserStack real device cloud is executed on real browsers and devices. 3000+ real browsers and devices, in fact.

On BrowserStack, accessibility tests are run on 3000+ real browsers and devices. You won’t have to deal with any emulators or simulators and their inconclusive results.

Both manual and automated accessibility tests will be run on the latest as well as older devices, all installed with real operating systems and multiple versions of major browsers – Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, Opera, and more.

Essentially, accessibility tests will be run in real user conditions. You will be able to verify your website’s accessibility levels with 100% accuracy, as they will appear to you in the same way they will appear to end-users, regardless of devices and browsers they may be using.