Website accessibility is no longer optional. It’s a critical part of delivering a usable, inclusive digital experience.
As more businesses rely on websites for sales, customer support, and brand trust, ensuring that people with disabilities can fully access and navigate digital content has become both a legal and ethical priority. Accessibility testing helps organizations identify barriers that prevent users from completing tasks, engaging with content, or using assistive technologies such as screen readers.
There are two primary approaches to accessibility testing: automated testing tools and testing with real users, including people who are blind or visually impaired. While automated tools provide speed and efficiency, they cannot fully replicate real-world usage. Testing with real users offers invaluable insight into how accessibility issues affect actual people, but it requires more planning and investment.
This guide explores the strengths and limitations of both approaches, offers budget-friendly testing strategies for businesses of all sizes, and highlights accessibility providers that include blind user testing as part of their services.
Automated Tools
Automated accessibility tools (like Axe, WAVE, and Google Lighthouse) scan your website’s code to flag common issues such as missing alt text, contrast problems, or missing labels.
Pros
- Fast and consistent: Can run in minutes and flag obvious code issues.
- Good for early development checks: Helps catch technical issues.
- Cost-effective: Many tools are free or affordable.
Cons
- Limited coverage: Automated tools typically detect only about 30–40% of accessibility issues.
- No real user experience: They can’t simulate how people with disabilities actually navigate and complete tasks on your website.
- False positives/negatives: Tools might flag something as an issue that isn’t a real barrier or miss real problems entirely.
Automated scans are a useful layer in your accessibility strategy, but they should not be the only layer if your goal is real inclusivity.
Real-User Testing
Real-user testing involves people, especially those who use assistive technologies, actually navigating your website to complete tasks like form submission, checkout, or menu navigation.
Pros
- Authentic experiences: Testers with disabilities reveal usability issues automated tools can’t detect.
- Contextual feedback: You see not just whether something technically complies, but how usable it is in real life.
- Actionable insights: Detailed feedback that explain why the issue is problematic, which can also serve as a valuable lesson for employees.
Cons
- Takes more time: Moderate scheduling and facilitation are required.
- Higher cost: Individual testing sessions cost more than automated scans, but often provide far better value through real insight.
Best Practice: A Combined Strategy
Automated testing is an excellent first line of defense, catching common technical issues quickly and affordably. However, it can only identify a portion of accessibility barriers and cannot evaluate real usability.
The best accessibility strategy uses automated tools for routine checks and real users to validate true accessibility, especially for purchases, account creation, and navigation. This layered approach helps you fix obvious code issues quickly while ensuring that the experience works for people with disabilities.
Budget-Friendly Tips for Businesses
Even if you’re a small business or startup, you can adopt smart practices without overspending. For instance, integrate free tools and run automated accessibility scans during development to catch common issues early. Additionally, you can choose to only test with a few users to at least uncover major usability issues from a small group of real people.
Accessibility services like EcomBack blend automated and real-user testing, including testers who are blind or visually impaired, a great way to get professional help without building it all in-house.
Ultimately, investing in real-world accessibility testing leads to better user experiences, reduced legal risk, and a more inclusive digital presence, benefiting both users and businesses alike.
