How to Test Your Website for Accessibility Complete Guide for 2025

Table of Contents

1. Why Accessibility Matters in 2025
2. Ways to Test Your Website for Accessibility
3. Limitations of Free Accessibility Checkers
4. When to Hire a Web Accessibility Consultant
5. Step-by-Step: Quick Accessibility Test for Your Website
6. QAble's Role in Comprehensive Accessibility Testing

In 2025, website accessibility isn't just a moral imperative—it's a business necessity and legal requirement. With new WCAG 2.2 standards, updated ADA regulations, and the European Accessibility Act coming into force on June 28, 2025, ensuring your website is accessible to all users has never been more critical.

Why Accessibility Matters in 2025

Legal Landscape and Compliance Requirements

The accessibility legal landscape has evolved significantly in 2025. The Americans with Disabilities Act ADA) now requires state and local governments with populations of 50,000 or more to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA standards by April 24, 2026, while smaller jurisdictions have until April 26, 2027. Meanwhile, the European Accessibility Act mandates that all e-commerce, travel, and banking websites in the EU meet accessibility standards by June 28, 2025.

WCAG 2.2, released in October 2023, introduces nine new success criteria specifically addressing accessibility for users with low vision, cognitive disabilities, and motor impairments. These updates focus heavily on mobile accessibility and improved focus visibility, reflecting the evolving digital landscape.

Business Impact: Beyond Compliance

SEO and Traffic Growth: Research from Semrush analyzing nearly 850 websites found that implementing accessibility solutions resulted in an average 12% increase in overall traffic, with 73.4% of websites experiencing organic traffic growth. This demonstrates the clear connection between accessibility and search engine optimization.

Market Reach: With over 61 million adults in the U.S. having some form of disability, accessible websites tap into a significant, often underserved market segment. The Click-Away Pound Survey revealed that 71% of users leave a website within 10 seconds if it's inaccessible, contributing to an estimated $828 million in lost e-commerce sales during the 2021 holiday season.  

Brand Reputation: Companies prioritizing accessibility demonstrate social responsibility and inclusiveness, which resonates strongly with today's consumers who prefer brands with demonstrated values.  

Also Read: Accessibility Checker vs. Web Accessibility Consultant: What's the Real Difference?

Ways to Test Your Website for Accessibility

Automated Tools and Accessibility Checkers

Automated accessibility testing tools serve as your first line of defense, quickly scanning websites for common issues like missing alt text, color contrast problems, and improper heading structures.

Popular Free Tools Include:

• WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool): Developed by WebAIM, provides visual feedback about accessibility issues.
• axe DevTools: A browser extension offering comprehensive WCAG compliance checking with minimal false positives.
• Silktide Toolbar: Tests over 200 WCAG issues with step-by-step guidance for fixes 11.  
• AccessibilityChecker.org: Provides detailed reports with solution recommendations.

Enterprise Solutions:

• BrowserStack Accessibility: Offers real device testing across 3,500+ browsers and devices with CI/CD integration.  
• ACCELQ: Provides automated accessibility validation integrated into functional testing cycles 15.

Also Read: Getting Started with Accessibility Testing Using AQA Tool

Manual Testing Methods

Manual testing remains crucial for identifying nuanced accessibility issues that automated tools miss. This includes testing with actual assistive technologies and evaluating user experience from a disability perspective.

Screen Reader Testing:

Screen reader testing is essential for understanding how visually impaired users experience your website. The three primary screen readers to test with are:

• JAWS (Job Access With Speech): The most widely used Windows screen reader, though expensive. 
• NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access): A free, open-source Windows screen reader with broad compatibility.
• VoiceOver: Apple's built-in screen reader for macOS and iOS devices 19.  

Testing Process:

1. Navigate through your website using only keyboard commands.
2. Listen for confusing or incorrect announcements.
3. Check that all interactive elements are properly labeled.
4. Verify that dynamic content updates are announced. 

Keyboard Navigation Testing:

Ensure your website is fully navigable without a mouse by:

• Tabbing through all interactive elements. 
• Verifying visible focus indicators.
• Testing that all functionality is accessible via keyboard shortcuts.  
• Checking that focus doesn't get trapped in any sections.

Expert Review and Professional Audits

While automated tools can catch obvious issues, professional accessibility consultants bring expertise that goes beyond technical compliance to ensure genuine usability for people with disabilities.

Also read: Best Practices in Accessibility Testing

Limitations of Free Accessibility Checkers

What They Catch vs. What They Miss

Free accessibility checkers excel at identifying technical violations but fall short in several critical areas:

What Free Tools Detect Well:

• Missing alt text on images.
• Color contrast ratios below WCAG standards.  
• Improper heading hierarchy.
• Form elements without labels.

What They Often Miss:

• Context and Quality: Tools can detect missing alt text but can't determine if existing alt text is meaningful or accurate.
• User Experience Issues: Complex navigation problems, confusing interaction patterns, or logical flow issues require human assessment.
• ARIA Implementation: While tools can flag missing ARIA attributes, they can't evaluate if they're used correctly or provide meaningful information.
• Dynamic Content: Issues with changing content, modal dialogs, or single-page applications often escape automated detection.

Real-World Examples of Missed Issues

High-profile lawsuits demonstrate the gaps in automated testing:

• Target Corporation paid $6 million in 2018 for website accessibility violations that included incompatibility with screen readers—issues that likely passed basic automated checks but failed real-world usability.  
• Domino's Pizza faced legal action when a blind customer couldn't order food through their website and app, despite likely having technically compliant elements.
• Barnes & Noble was sued twice for screen reader compatibility issues, indicating that surface- level compliance doesn't guarantee actual accessibility.  

When to Hire a Web Accessibility Consultant

Benefits of Professional Accessibility Testing

• Legal Protection: Professional audits provide the documentation needed for VPAT Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) creation and legal compliance. Manual audits by certified experts carry more weight in legal proceedings than automated scan results.  
• Comprehensive Coverage: Accessibility consultants conduct testing that combines automated tools, manual evaluation, and real assistive technology testing to identify issues across the entire user journey.  
• Strategic Implementation: Rather than just identifying problems, consultants provide prioritized remediation plans and guidance on preventing future accessibility barriers.  
• Cost-Effectiveness: While professional audits require upfront investment, they prevent costly lawsuits and redesigns. The average ADA lawsuit settlement ranges from $75,000 to several million dollars.  

How Consulting Differs from Automated Scans

Professional accessibility consulting goes beyond technical compliance to evaluate:

• Real user experience with assistive technologies.
• Content quality and clarity for cognitive accessibility.
• Complex interaction patterns that require human judgment.
• Organizational accessibility processes and staff training needs.  
• Long-term accessibility maintenance strategies.  

Step-by-Step: Quick Accessibility Test for Your Website

Here's a rapid assessment business owners can perform immediately:

1. Keyboard Navigation Test 5 minutes)

• Tab through your entire homepage without using a mouse.  
• Verify you can reach all interactive elements.
• Check that focus indicators are clearly visible.
• Ensure you can activate all buttons and links with Enter or Space.

2. Color Contrast Check (3 minutes)

• Use a free tool like WebAIM's Contrast Checker.
• Test your primary text colors against background colors.
• Ensure a minimum 4.5:1 ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text.

3. Image Alt Text Review (5 minutes)

• Right-click on images and check "Inspect Element".
• Verify all informative images have descriptive alt attributes.  
• Decorative images should have empty alt="" attributes.

4. Heading Structure Analysis (3 minutes)

• Use a browser extension like HeadingsMap.  
• Verify your page has one H1 tag.
• Check that headings follow logical hierarchy H1→H2→H3.

5. Form Label Verification (3 minutes)

• Ensure all form fields have associated labels.
• Check that error messages are clearly linked to problematic fields.  
• Verify required fields are properly marked.

This 20-minute assessment will reveal the most common accessibility barriers affecting your users.

QAble's Role in Comprehensive Accessibility Testing

The QAble Approach: At QAble, we understand that true accessibility requires more than automated scanning. Our comprehensive methodology combines three critical testing layers:

Automated Foundation: We utilize industry-leading tools like axe DevTools, WAVE, and BrowserStack to establish a technical baseline and catch obvious violations quickly.  

Expert Manual Review: Our certified accessibility specialists perform detailed audits using actual assistive technologies including JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver screen readers across multiple devices and browsers.  

Real-World Validation: We test complete user journeys—from landing page to checkout— ensuring that people with disabilities can actually accomplish tasks on your website, not just navigate it.

Ongoing Partnership: Unlike one-time scans, QAble provides continuous accessibility monitoring, staff training, and remediation support to maintain compliance as your website evolves.  

Whether you need a comprehensive audit for legal compliance, ongoing accessibility testing integration, or staff training on inclusive design principles, QAble serves as your strategic partner in creating truly accessible digital experiences.

Ready to ensure your website serves all users equally? Contact QAble today for a comprehensive accessibility assessment that goes beyond basic compliance to deliver genuine inclusivity and legal protection. Our expert team combines automated efficiency with human insight to identify and resolve accessibility barriers that could be costing you customers and exposing you to legal risk.

Don't wait for a lawsuit to prioritize accessibility. In 2025, inclusive design isn't optional—it's essential for business success.