--- title: How to Test the Accessibility of a Website description: Wondering how to test the accessibility of a website? Here’s our step-by-step guide to making your brand assets more inclusive. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/How-to-Test-the-Accessibility-of-a-Website.png --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-to-test-the-accessibility-of-a-website#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-to-test-the-accessibility-of-a-website#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/how-to-test-the-accessibility-of-a-website#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. [Test now!](https://usablenet.com/automated-accessibility-testing-tool) Close [![UsableNet home](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/logo.png?width=429&height=62&name=logo.png)](https://usablenet.com/) - [Solutions](https://usablenet.com) ## Solutions [UsableNet Assistive](https://usablenet.com/technology/assistive-technology-services) A managed service combining experts, technology and legal support to make your website accessible [UsableNet AQA](https://usablenet.com/technology/aqa) Accessibility management and testing software for designers, developers, and testers [Accessibility Audits & Support Services](https://usablenet.com/services) Expert guidance and training to empower your team to create accessible digital experiences Explore which of our digital accessibility solutions is right for you [Watch a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/choose-a-demo?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1737658630173.1737669055746.199&__hssc=181257784.7.1737669055746&__hsfp=3011104808) - [Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Resources - [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) - [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) - [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) - [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) - [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) - [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/resources-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=resources-1.png) [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/resources-2.png?width=100&height=100&name=resources-2.png) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/resources-3.png?width=100&height=100&name=resources-3.png) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ADA%20Primer.png?width=100&height=100&name=ADA%20Primer.png) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? [Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance) - [Who We Serve](https://usablenet.com/strategic-relationships) ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/e-commerce-accessibility-solutions) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) Close Open Menu - Solutions ## Solutions [UsableNet Assistive](https://usablenet.com/technology/assistive-technology-services) A managed service combining experts, technology and legal support to make your website accessible [UsableNet AQA](https://usablenet.com/technology/aqa) Accessibility management and testing software for designers, developers, and testers [Accessibility Audits & Support Services](https://usablenet.com/services) Expert guidance and training to empower your team to create accessible digital experiences Which accessibility remediation approach is right for me? [Take our Quiz](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) - Resources ## Resources [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? [Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) - Who We Serve ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-e-commerce-consumer-goods) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-europe) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) # How to Test the Accessibility of a Website **By** [UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/usablenet-1) on Aug 3, 2020 **Topics:** [Web Accessibility](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility), [Accessibility Testing](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/accessibility-testing) 0 Comments - - - ![How to test the accessibility of a website](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/How-to-Test-the-Accessibility-of-a-Website.png) When addressing accessibility in your websites, apps, and other digital content, it is paramount that you follow established best practices in order to ensure your digital properties are fully inclusive for the [one in four Americans who have disabilities](https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html#:~:text=61%20million%20adults%20in%20the,is%20highest%20in%20the%20South).  Often, companies default to addressing website accessibility solely through the lens of the [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines](https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/) (WCAG). However, although meeting those standards is crucial to reduce [litigation risk](https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html#:~:text=61%20million%20adults%20in%20the,is%20highest%20in%20the%20South), many accessibility and usability issues can be easily missed without a holistic plan for how to test the accessibility of a website. Here’s a five-step guide explaining how to test your website’s accessibility: ## **1. Define the Scope of Testing** The first step to properly testing the accessibility of a website is to define and understand the scope of your testing. You must know the regulations and how they apply to your business, and understand the general and industry-specific criteria to follow. ### **Know the Regulations** Between WCAG, the [Americans with Disabilities Act](https://www.ada.gov/2010_regs.htm) (ADA), Sections [504](https://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm) and [508](https://www.fcc.gov/general/section-508-rehabilitation-act) of the Rehabilitation Act—not to mention other industry-specific laws that govern web accessibility—there are plenty of ways that your organization might be compelled to make your web content accessible. Knowing which laws apply to your business is an important first step, because each law is prescribed and enforced differently. ### **Understand the Criteria** In addition to legal standards, understanding how the [four major WCAG success criteria](https://webaim.org/articles/pour/) apply to your business and your website is also important. According to the guidelines, information on websites must be:  - Perceivable - Operable - Understandable - Robust  How you test your website for accessibility using these POUR criteria may differ depending on your industry, as well as the type of content and user journeys on your website. [→ Want to learn more about how to test web and app accessibility? Download our ultimate guide.](https://info.usablenet.com/accessibility-testing)   ## **2. How to Test: The User Comes First** Once you’ve identified which laws you need to comply with and how you can fulfill the POUR principles of accessibility for your website or app, the next step is to plan out your testing process. The single most important thing you can do at this stage is put yourself in the shoes of users with a wide array of disabilities.  ### **Run Multiple, Diverse Test Cycles** For a truly comprehensive testing process, you will need to run several test cycles through each crucial user journey. Steps to achieve this include: 1. Navigating using a screen reader 2. Turning off images and seeing if you can make your way through the content 3. Checking that captions accurately describe the images 4. Turning off the cascading style sheet (CSS) 5. Navigating with “no sound” (speakers and microphone off) 6. Navigating with no mouse, using only the keyboard  7. Zooming out   ### **Test with Real Users** Testing the accessibility of your website with [real end users who have disabilities](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-increased-demand-for-user-testing-from-the-disability-community) is critical. You should first establish a group of users from the disability community to participate in testing your website. UsableNet can help set up and run [user testing on your site](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-accessibility-support-services/user-testing); UsableNet AQA can be used to set up user testing tasks and provides a fully accessible way for assistive users to give feedback to you and your team. Regardless of how you recruit users for testing, be sure to provide them with a way to give direct and honest feedback. And take their opinions and ideas seriously.  ### **Be Inclusive of All Disabilities** Although often overlooked, including users representing [different types of disabilities](https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/) is important. The way someone who cannot move their arms uses your website differs from the way someone who can’t see well or has difficulty hearing interacts with it. The default is to test users of switch devices or users who are blind, but that is just a fraction of overall accessibility barriers that need to be checked. ## **3. Make Sure to Test for Accessibility and Usability (There’s a Difference)** It’s important to understand the difference between [usability and accessibility](https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-usability-inclusion/#:~:text=Accessibility%3A%20addresses%20discriminatory%20aspects%20related,interact%20with%20websites%20and%20tools.&text=Usability%20includes%20user%20experience%20design.) and why you should be looking at both. Usability refers to how easy things are to use (i.e., can a wide variety of users achieve end goals within your digital environments?).  Accessibility, on the other hand, is more of a checklist of technical criteria that must be met through proper coding so that your website supports different assistive technologies. Both factors should be tested separately; together, the results give you a broad overview of what needs fixing. ## **4. Keep It Simple** One of the most common mistakes in accessibility and usability testing is when companies get too ambitious with testing. Fully testing every flow and page within your website is generally not feasible. Although it might be tempting to task your testers with reviewing your entire site, try to focus on a few key areas instead. For example, [an e-commerce site](https://marketingtechnews.net/news/2020/feb/03/how-web-accessibility-will-improve-your-ecommerce-websites-performance/) might focus on the checkout process for shoppers who use screen-reading software. Also, make sure the scope has a time limit, so testers don’t get tired or frustrated. ## **5. Just Do It!** When testing your website for accessibility, the hardest part is starting. It’s easy for testing to become frustrating or overwhelming, so try to keep the process fun and casual. When presenting your participants with tasks, use real-world situations and storytelling to make the experience more fun, realistic, and less like a test that needs to be passed. Involving the disability community will allow you to capture real examples of how users engage with your site; making this a part of your overall process will ensure ongoing accessibility and usability for this important group of users.  ## **Get Started with Web Accessibility Testing Today** If you’re ready to test accessibility on your website, contact us for a free consultation. UsableNet can [help your organization](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-accessibility-support-services/user-testing) design, plan, and execute accessibility and usability testing goals. With more than 20 years of accessibility expertise and broad experience across industries and businesses of all sizes, we have the right plan for you. [![Accessibility Testing Guide](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/134e0c54-aaac-4848-b688-601ee93580f2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/134e0c54-aaac-4848-b688-601ee93580f2) ![UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo%20150%20x%20150.png) ### [UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/usablenet-1) Founded in 2000, UsableNet created some of the first tools and platforms to make websites accessible and usable for all people. Starting out, we worked with government agencies as well as universities and corporations. Today, accessibility has become important to almost all companies. We provide accessibility solutions to Fortune 1000 companies, small and medium enterprises, government, and education organizations across industries including retail, travel, hospitality, food services, automotive, financial services, and healthcare. - - - - ### Related posts ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/The%20Low-Cost%20Moves%20That%20Strengthen%20an%20ADA%20Website%20Defense.png) [The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-low-cost-moves-that-strengthen-an-ada-website-defense) Jun 16, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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Stay up-to-date on our insights, the latest tech news and digital trends. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "UsableNet", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/author/usablenet-1" }, "dateModified" : "2021-02-08T23:13:50.048Z", "datePublished" : "2020-08-03T04:58:24.000Z", "headline" : "How to Test the Accessibility of a Website", "image" : [ "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/How-to-Test-the-Accessibility-of-a-Website.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/how-to-test-the-accessibility-of-a-website", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo_Black.png" }, "name" : "UsableNet Inc." } } ```