Why Accessibility Matters

The Human Impact

Accessibility testing isn’t just about compliance or technical standards—it’s about ensuring that your digital products are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies.

Who Benefits from Accessibility?

People with Visual Impairments

Screen Reader Users: Over 2.2 billion people worldwide have vision impairments. Many rely on screen readers like:

• VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
• NVDA (Windows, free)
• JAWS (Windows, commercial)
• TalkBack (Android)

These tools read web content aloud, but only if your HTML is properly structured with:

• Semantic HTML elements (<nav>, <main>, <article>, etc.)
• Proper heading hierarchy
• Descriptive alt text for images
• ARIA labels for interactive elements

Low Vision Users: People with partial vision need:

• High color contrast (WCAG AA: 4.5:1 for normal text)
• Scalable text that works with browser zoom
• Clear focus indicators
• Logical content structure

People with Motor Impairments

Users who cannot use a mouse rely entirely on keyboard navigation. They need:

• All interactive elements accessible via keyboard
• Logical tab order
• Visible focus indicators
• No keyboard traps
• Keyboard shortcuts that don’t conflict with assistive technologies

People with Cognitive Impairments

Users with attention disorders, learning disabilities, or cognitive impairments benefit from:

• Clear, simple language
• Consistent navigation
• Predictable page structure
• Error messages that are easy to understand
• Options to extend time limits

People with Hearing Impairments

Deaf and hard-of-hearing users need:

• Captions for video content
• Transcripts for audio content
• Visual indicators for audio alerts
• Text alternatives for audio information

Real-World Impact

The Numbers

• Over 1 billion people worldwide live with disabilities
• 15% of the global population has some form of disability
• 26% of adults in the United States have a disability
• $6.9 trillion in disposable income for people with disabilities (US)

Legal Requirements

Accessibility is often required by law:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Requires accessible websites for many organizations
• Section 508: US federal agencies must make digital content accessible
• European Accessibility Act: EU-wide accessibility requirements
• WCAG 2.1: International standard referenced by many laws

Business Benefits

Accessible websites benefit businesses by:

• Expanding your audience: Reach millions of potential users
• Improving SEO: Search engines favor accessible, semantic HTML
• Reducing legal risk: Compliance reduces risk of accessibility lawsuits
• Better user experience: Accessible design often improves UX for everyone
• Corporate responsibility: Demonstrates commitment to inclusion

Common Barriers

What Screen Reader Users Experience

When websites aren’t accessible, screen reader users encounter:

• Unlabeled buttons: “Button” with no context
• Missing form labels: “Edit text” instead of “Email address”
• Broken heading structure: Jumping from H1 to H4, skipping levels
• Images without alt text: “Image” or “Graphic” with no description
• Poor ARIA usage: Missing or incorrect ARIA attributes
• Keyboard traps: Unable to navigate away from certain elements

What Keyboard-Only Users Experience

Users who can’t use a mouse face:

• Inaccessible elements: Buttons or links that can’t be reached with Tab
• No focus indicators: Can’t tell where they are on the page
• Keyboard traps: Stuck in modals or forms with no escape
• Hidden interactive elements: Content that only appears on hover

How CodeFrog Helps

CodeFrog’s accessibility testing, powered by axe-core, identifies these issues automatically:

1. Automated Detection: Catches common accessibility violations
2. Detailed Reports: Explains what’s wrong and how to fix it
3. WCAG Compliance: Tests against WCAG 2.1 AA standards
4. Multiple Test Sources: Test local files, URLs, or entire sites via sitemap

Getting Started

1. Test Your Site: Use CodeFrog’s Web Testing feature to scan for accessibility issues
2. Review Findings: Check the detailed reports for violations
3. Fix Issues: Address identified problems using the provided guidance
4. Test with Real Tools: Use actual screen readers to verify fixes
5. Involve Users: Get feedback from people with disabilities when possible

Learn More

For detailed information on accessibility testing with CodeFrog, see:

• WCAG Levels Explained - Understanding WCAG A, AA, and AAA conformance levels
• Accessibility Testing Guide - How to use CodeFrog’s accessibility tools
• Benefits of Valid HTML and Accessibility - Technical and business benefits
• Building Inclusive Web Applications - Blog post on accessibility testing

Resources

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1
• WebAIM Screen Reader Survey
• W3C Web Accessibility Initiative

Accessibility isn’t optional—it’s essential. By building accessible websites, you’re ensuring that everyone can use your digital products, regardless of their abilities.