Accessibility Testing : How it Help Unlock World for disabled peoples

What is Accessibility Testing ?

Accessibility testing is the process of evaluating a product, service, or environment for accessibility, typically with the goal of identifying and addressing any barriers for people with disabilities. This can include testing for compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), as well as evaluating the usability of the product for people with disabilities using a range of assistive technologies.

What is Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of guidelines and standards for making web content more accessible for people with disabilities. These guidelines are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and cover a wide range of topics related to web accessibility, including the structure and organization of web content, the use of images, audio, and video, and the design of forms and controls.

The guidelines are organized into a set of success criteria at three levels of conformance: A, AA, and AAA, with Level AA being the most common standard required by laws and regulations. Adhering to these guidelines can help ensure that people with disabilities can access and use web content, and can also improve the overall usability and user experience for all users.

Types Of Accessibility Testing ?

There are several types of accessibility testing that can be performed to evaluate the accessibility of a product, service, or environment, including:

1. Automated testing: This type of testing uses software tools to scan web pages or apps for accessibility issues and generate reports.
2. Manual testing: This type of testing involves manually evaluating a product, service, or environment for accessibility issues using a range of assistive technologies, such as screen readers and keyboard navigation.
3. User testing: This type of testing involves recruiting people with disabilities to use a product, service, or environment and provide feedback on their experience.
4. Code review: This type of testing involves reviewing the source code of a website or application to ensure that it follows accessibility guidelines and standards.
5. Compliance testing: This type of testing involves evaluating a product, service, or environment against specific accessibility guidelines and standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Each of these testing types can be done in isolation or in combination with others. It is important to note that accessibility testing is an ongoing process, and it is important to regularly test and re-test products, services, and environments to ensure that they remain accessible to all users.

Largest Accessibility Testing Growing Region :

It’s difficult to pinpoint one specific region as the largest growing region for accessibility testing, as accessibility is becoming increasingly important globally. However, there are a few regions that have been particularly active in promoting and enforcing accessibility in recent years.

1. United States: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has helped to drive accessibility efforts in the US, and many companies have been sued for not having accessible websites.
2. Europe: The EU has been active in promoting accessibility, particularly through the Web Accessibility Directive, which requires public sector websites to be accessible.
3. Canada: The Accessible Canada Act was passed in 2019, which aims to make Canada more accessible for people with disabilities.
4. Australia: The Disability Discrimination Act has been implemented since 1992, which also helps to drive accessibility efforts in Australia.
5. United Kingdom: The Equality Act has been implemented since 2010, this act also helps to drive accessibility efforts in the UK.

These are just a few examples, but accessibility testing is becoming increasingly important worldwide as the awareness of accessibility issues and the needs of people with disabilities continue to grow.

The accessibility testing market is segmented by type and application.

By Type:

1. Web Application: Accessibility testing for websites and web-based applications, including e-commerce sites, government portals, and more.
2. Mobile Application: Accessibility testing for mobile apps, including iOS, Android, and other platforms.

By Application:

1. Small & Medium Enterprise: Accessibility testing for small and medium-sized businesses, which may not have the resources or expertise in-house to perform accessibility testing.
2. Large Enterprise: Accessibility testing for large organizations, which may have dedicated accessibility teams or outsource testing to specialized firms.

In recent years, the demand for accessibility testing is increasing rapidly due to the growing awareness of accessibility issues and the need to comply with accessibility regulations and guidelines. The web application segment is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period, as many organizations are focusing on making their websites and web-based applications accessible to all users. The mobile application segment is also expected to grow at a significant rate, as the use of mobile apps continues to increase.

Large enterprises are expected to dominate the market, as they have the resources and budget to invest in accessibility testing, while small and medium-sized enterprises are also increasing their adoption of accessibility testing to comply with regulations and improve user experience.

Accessibility Testing Market Size

As per the Straits Research Analysis – Global Accessibility Testing Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 4.1%, during the forecasted period 2020-2027.

Top 10 Companies for Accessibility Testing:

Here are some of the top companies that provide accessibility testing services:

1. Deque Systems
2. AccessibilityOz
3. AudioEye
4. Level Access
5. SSB BART Group
6. The Paciello Group
7. WebAIM
8. eSSENTIAL Accessibility
9. Cyber Infrastructure, Inc.
10. UsableNet

These companies provide a range of accessibility testing services, including automated testing, manual testing, user testing, and compliance testing. They also offer consulting and training services to help organizations improve their accessibility efforts. It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive and there are many other companies providing accessibility testing services worldwide. It also depends on the region and the specific needs of an organization, so it is always best to research and evaluate different options before making a decision.

accessibility testing With AI and Automation Tools:

Accessibility testing with AI and automation tools can help organizations to improve the accessibility of their digital products. Automation tools can help to quickly identify accessibility issues and provide detailed reports on how to fix them. This can help to save time and resources, as manual testing can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

AI-based accessibility testing tools can analyze the code and structure of a website or application and identify potential accessibility issues. These tools can also provide suggestions for how to fix the issues and can even make some of the fixes automatically.

Some examples of AI-based accessibility testing tools are:

1. Deque’s AXE: An accessibility testing tool that can automatically identify accessibility issues and provide suggestions for how to fix them.
2. AccessMonitor: An automated accessibility testing tool that can test websites and web applications for accessibility issues.
3. AccessiBe: An AI-based accessibility solution that can automatically make a website or application more accessible.

It’s important to note that AI-based accessibility testing tools can be a valuable resource for organizations, but they should not be used as a substitute for manual testing and user testing. These tools can identify potential issues, but it’s still important for accessibility experts to evaluate the results and make sure that the issues are properly addressed.

Also, While these tools can be a great way to quickly identify and fix accessibility issues, it’s important to remember that accessibility is an ongoing process and that regular testing and monitoring is required to ensure that your digital products remain accessible to all users.