Testing WordPress Accessibility Plugins

The only way to determine how effective a WordPress accessibility plugin is is to test it. There are numerous accessibility testing tools available, ranging from free and essential to expensive enterprise solutions. So, this article will focus on manual accessibility testing to help you ensure you are using the right plugins for your website.

 

What Is Manual Accessibility Testing?

Manual accessibility testing occurs when a person examines a web page — rather than an AI scanner — to determine accessibility issues. Here are some examples of manual testing:

 

·         Checking for closed captions and transcripts in embedded media such as video and audio files

·         Navigating the website solely with a keyboard

·         Using a screen reader to scan website content

·         Examining the website on various devices and resolutions

 

Manual accessibility testing is critical for identifying accessibility errors because automated testing tools can only detect 30-40% of accessibility issues.

 

Keyboard Navigation Test

A keyboard navigation test is the best way to begin a manual examination of your WordPress accessibility plugin.  

 

To test your website, you must first load the page you want to try. Then, use the tab and arrow keys to navigate your pages and interact with their features. Your goal is to do everything you can with a mouse with just your keyboard.

 

Screen Readers Test

You can start testing your website with screen readers after examining it for keyboard navigation. Although you can evaluate your website with just one of these screen readers, trying two or more will yield better results because not all screen readers read the same thing when encountering elements.

 

First, you must install screen reading software on your computer, turn it on, and load the page you want to test with a screen reader. Next, using the tab and arrow keys, navigate through the page as you did when performing manual keyboard testing. Take note of anything that sounds confusing or incorrect as you listen to what the screen reader says.

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