Accessibility is not a one-time checklist—it is an ongoing commitment to making digital experiences inclusive for everyone. While inclusive design lays the foundation, testing ensures those good intentions result in real-world usability. In this article, we will explore why accessibility testing matters, which tools can help catch issues early, and the techniques teams can use to build more accessible, user-friendly technology.
According to Deque Systems, 67% of accessibility issues can be traced to design decisions. And per WebAIM 2025 Million report (which scans 1 million home pages), top 2 WCAG failures are related to contrast issues:
A simple first step for designers - use the WebAIM Contrast Checker to avoid this common issue:
Accessibility issues caused by developers mostly stem from bad HTML or ARIA usage. As the saying goes, ‘No ARIA is better than bad ARIA’—a reminder that misusing ARIA often causes more harm than help. WebAIM Million annual reports highlight the need for constant monitoring for such “code grammar” issues.
Developers should utilize a free automatic tool like axe-core (Chrome extension) to capture HTML, ARIA issues. It is important to remember to run it on all viewports, error states and other edge cases to maximize the effectiveness of this tool.
QA testers should learn to use screen readers. Apple devices come with already built-in VoiceOver. Windows computers also come with built-in screen reader Narrator, however, the current industry’s most popular free screen reader for Windows is NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access). It is best when you have the native screen reader users but everyone can benefit from learning these tools—you never know when it might come in handy. Even a basic understanding of how screen readers work can improve how teams think about navigation, focus order, and labels. A great start is to prepare yourself with screen readers shortcuts cheat sheets.
Many companies now promote “Keyboard Mondays”—encouraging employees to navigate without a mouse. It is a great way to build empathy for keyboard-only users while also improving productivity through shortcut knowledge. It is also one of the easiest accessibility skills to learn, with wide-reaching impact. Do not forget: you can even try using a keyboard with phones or tablets!
The tips above help catch technical and code-level accessibility issues. But for broader usability insights, the best approach is to test with people with disabilities from the beginning. Just as you would validate a new idea with real users, involving people with lived experience of disability provides crucial feedback early—saving time, money, and reputational risk later.
Accessibility testing is not just about checking boxes—it is about building empathy into every stage of the product lifecycle. Whether you are a designer adjusting color contrast, a developer writing clean semantic HTML, a QA tester learning screen reader basics, or an employee trying keyboard-only navigation, every small action adds up. By combining automated tools with real user feedback and inclusive practices, teams can create technology that works better for everyone. Accessibility is everyone’s job—and testing is how we make sure we are getting it right.