The goal of digital accessibility is to create tools and interfaces (websites and web applications) that are user-friendly for all users - regardless of their skills, devices and (above all) limitations due to, for example, disabilities. Legal requirements for accessibility are steadily increasing. More and more companies and developers today are therefore reaching for tools that automate accessibility testing. But these tools are a convenience not only for professionals. They help any user to check the website he or she uses or owns or authors for digital accessibility. In this article, we will show you how to effectively check digital accessibility with Google Chrome browser plug-ins, what features these tools offer and what their advantages and limitations are.
Dalszą część artykułu przeczytasz poniżej - pod formularzem.
Introduction to digital accessibility
Digital accessibility is about ensuring that all website content and features are accessible to people with a range of disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, proper header structure, legible colour contrast, correct use of alt attributes next to images, and enabling full keyboard navigation. The implementation of these standards not only enhances the user experience, but is also crucial in terms of legislation, such as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and EU directives.
Why automate accessibility testing?
Benefits of automation:
- Speed and efficiency: Automated tests allow you to test an entire page in a matter of seconds, greatly speeding up the process of identifying errors. Of course, it will take you much longer to analyse the results than one quick run of the automation.
- Standardisation of the process: These tools allow you to systematically check compliance with WCAG standards, making it easier to maintain consistency throughout the project.
- Support for developers: With automation, developers receive specific reports with detected issues and guidance on how to fix them, allowing for faster deployment of fixes.
- Integration with CI/CD: Accessibility plugins can be integrated with Continuous Integration and Delivery (CI/CD) systems, allowing regular monitoring of the site during development and deployment of updates.
Limitations of automated testing:
- Incomplete test coverage: Automated tools are only able to detect around 30-40% of potential issues. Manual tests remain necessary to assess issues related to context, content interpretation or the logic of interface elements.
- False positives and false negatives (false positives / false negatives) or false results: Automated scanners can sometimes report errors where there are none, or overlook certain issues that require human judgement.
Key features of the accessibility test plug-ins
Google Chrome browser plug-ins offer a number of features to streamline the accessibility audit process:
- Automatic problem detection: Tools analyse HTML code, ARIA attributes, colour contrast, alt text and other accessibility criteria.
- Visual reporting: Issues are flagged directly on the page - the developer can see which elements need improvement.
- Generating detailed reports: After testing, the plugin provides reports listing the errors detected, their description and remediation recommendations.
- Integration with developer tools: Plugins often work in conjunction with Chrome DevTools, enabling quick diagnosis of issues and real-time testing of changes.
Popular Google Chrome plug-ins that automate accessibility tests
WAVE Evaluation Tool
WAVE, developed by WebAIM, is one of the most popular tools for automatic accessibility testing. When the icon is clicked in the browser, the extension injects visual cues into the page that indicate, among other things, missing alt attributes, colour contrast problems and errors in header structure. The use of WAVE allows problem areas to be quickly identified, facilitating the work of teams responsible for improving accessibility.
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/wave-evaluation-tool/jbbplnpkjmmeebjpijfedlgcdilocofh
Accessibility Insights for Web
Microsoft's Accessibility Insights for Web extension offers both a quick, automatic review (FastPass) and a detailed assessment (Assessment) of pages for accessibility. The tool provides not only a list of detected problems, but also instructions on how to fix them, making it an extremely useful tool for developers and testers alike.
https:// accessibilityinsights.io
IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker
The IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker is a powerful tool that integrates with the Chrome and Firefox browsers. Once launched, it scans the site, identifying accessibility errors and suggesting specific fixes. In addition, it offers detailed reports to help understand the context of the problems detected - from code errors to aspects of navigation order.
https:// chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ibm-equal-access-accessib/lkcagbfjnkomcinoddgooolagloogehp
ARC Toolkit i Siteimprove Accessibility Checker
ARC Toolkit, developed by TPGi, and Siteimprove Accessibility Checker are further examples of tools that automate the process of detecting accessibility issues. Both extensions focus on key aspects such as colour contrast, keyboard navigation and the correctness of ARIA attribute implementations, providing useful tips for improving the usability of websites.
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/arc-toolkit/chdkkkccnlfncngelccgbgfmjebmkmce
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/siteimprove-accessibility/djcglbmbegflehmbfleechkjhmedcopn
Jak działa automatyczne testowanie dostępności?
Integracja z Google Chrome
Most tools are available as browser extensions that can be easily installed from the Chrome Web Store. Once installed, the plug-in icon appears next to the address bar, allowing you to quickly run a test on the currently open page.
Testing process
- Activating the plug-in: Click the extension icon to start scanning the page.
- Page analysis: The tool automatically analyses code structure, accessibility attributes, colour contrast, the presence of alternative descriptions for images and other WCAG-compliant criteria.
- Problem visualisation: Detected errors are marked directly on the page - for example, elements with insufficient contrast may be highlighted in red.
- Report generation: Once the test is complete, the extension generates a detailed report that includes a description of the detected problems, their location in the code and recommendations for fixes.
Examples of reports
Reports generated by tools such as WAVE or Accessibility Insights for Web often include:
- The number of critical errors, warnings and suggestions: This enables the user to quickly identify the most important problems.
- Links to WCAG documentation: This allows the user to deepen their understanding of accessibility standards.
- Detailed error descriptions: Each problem is accompanied by a description that explains why the element is not compliant with the standards and how to correct it.
Advantages of automating availability tests
- Time-saving: Automatic scanning allows multiple issues to be detected quickly without having to manually review each page.
- Audit standardisation: The tools provide a uniform approach to testing, making it easy to compare results and monitor progress.
- Educational support: Detailed reports and links to documentation help teams better understand WCAG requirements and bring the site up to standard.
- Integration with development processes: The ability to implement accessibility testing as part of continuous integration (CI/CD) enables regular monitoring and rapid response to emerging issues.
Limitations of automated tools
Despite their many advantages, automated accessibility testing tools have their limitations:
- Detection range: Automatic tests do not catch all errors - many issues require manual assessment, such as the correctness of alternative text.
- False alarms: Sometimes the tools may indicate issues that do not actually negatively affect accessibility, requiring additional verification.
- Context and user intuition: Automation is no substitute for testing by people using assistive technologies such as screen readers.
The future of accessibility automation
The dynamic development of technology, including artificial intelligence, is opening up new opportunities for the automation of availability testing. In the future, we can expect:
- Better contextual analysis: Tools will increasingly understand the context of content use, allowing for more accurate assessments.
- Integration with machine learning / AI: The use of AI can increase the accuracy of problem detection and reduce false alarms.
- Increased personalisation: Automated tests will be able to be tailored to the specific needs of websites and applications, integrating with analytical tools and CI/CD systems.
Summary
Automating digital accessibility checking with Google Chrome plug-ins is invaluable support for developers and QA teams. Tools such as the WAVE Evaluation Tool, Accessibility Insights for Web or IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker can quickly detect numerous accessibility issues while providing detailed guidance on how to fix them. While automated testing is no substitute for comprehensive manual testing, it provides a solid foundation in the implementation and maintenance of web accessibility.
For companies concerned about compliance, increasing reach and improving user experience, automating accessibility audits is a step towards creating a more inclusive digital environment. We encourage the implementation of these tools as part of a broader accessibility strategy, combining automated testing with thorough manual assessments to achieve full compliance with WCAG and other standards.
With the right Google Chrome plug-ins, working on digital accessibility becomes simpler, faster and more efficient - resulting in a better user experience and a greater chance of business success.
