Bruce Lawson’s Post

How a failed user test got me started with accessibility (and three reasons why it failed) I was running a user testing session on a website some years ago, before I had any idea about accessibility and screen readers. This person was blind, using a screen reader, and they had problems filling in a form. I instructed them to select the first option in a fancy drop down widget, but they just couldn't get to it with a keyboard. "But it's right there," I kept saying. "No, I can't get to it," they said. What the what!? I was just a deer in the headlights, completely stunned and utterly surprised by what was happening. That little widget that I was so proud of was making them feel frustrated and exhausted. Total surprise! Why was it a surprise though? 1. I didn't know what I didn't know. I wasn't aware that a lot of people will tab tab tab their way through a website. I had no idea about accessibility, people with disabilities, keyboard navigation - and semantic HTML apparently. 2. I was ignorant. I knew the tester will use a screen reader and still I thought everything will work fine. How different could it be? I did no research. 3. I wasn't prepared. Because I thought everything will go smoothly, I didn't bother to prepare for the what-if. What if something goes wrong and we can't finish the test? No preparation lead to me babbling my way through it all, probably annoying them and running the clock. That whole experience left both of us frustrated. I felt that I wasted their time and they just felt exhausted at the end. It made me realise that the way I was designing and building things on the web was excluding a whole lot of people. And that got me started on the path I am today. How did you get started?

WCAG 2.2 is the latest standard for web accessibility and Inclusiveness. This update to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines brought best practices and technical requirements to make web content more accessible. WCAG 2.2 includes nine new success criteria's that tackle emerging issues and user needs, ensuring that websites and digital platforms are usable by people with a wide range of disabilities. At TestingXperts, we are committed to making the digital world accessible to everyone. Adhering to the latest W3C guidelines, our accessibility testing services are already geared to integrate these new standards. Companies that are following WCAG 2.1 guidelines and have not considered moving to WCAG 2.2 should take a step forward to comply with latest standards and make the web a better and more secure space for everyone. Read more about our accessibility testing services: https://lnkd.in/dwSV8eWD #accessibilitytesting #accessibility #webaccessibility #WCAG #accessibilitystandards #AccessibilityGuidelines

Accessibility is not just a feature; it's a fundamental aspect of inclusivity and equality on the web. As a product guy, I firmly believe in creating digital spaces that are accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. Let's build a web that's inclusive and accessible to everyone.

A step towards making digital space inclusive for all! 🧑🏻💻 Introducing the all-new LambdaTest Accessibility DevTools Chrome Extension🔗 https://lnkd.in/gxgzPVMd , Powered by Axe-core, allowing developers and testers to test/identify, manage, organize, and report accessibility issues. Featuring comprehensive scanning capabilities like 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧 for evaluating entire web pages, 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧 for pinpointing specific issues to 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 offering a comprehensive issue summary and breakdown of your website's accessibility performance. LambdaTest Accessibility DevTool has it all! 🚀 Install the extension now to test your website for accessibility and deliver exceptional user experience!💯 #LambdaTestYourApps #Accessibility #AccessibilityTool #SoftwareTesting

Taking a stride towards fostering inclusivity in the digital landscape! 🧑🏻💻 Presenting the latest LambdaTest Accessibility DevTools Chrome Extension🔗 https://lnkd.in/gxgzPVMd Driven by Axe DevTools, this extension empowers developers and testers to seamlessly identify, manage, organize, and report accessibility issues. Featuring comprehensive scanning capabilities, like: 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧 for evaluating entire web pages 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧 for pinpointing specific issues 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 offering a comprehensive issue summary and breakdown of your website's accessibility performance. Install the extension now to test your website for accessibility and deliver exceptional user experience!💯 #LambdaTestYourApps #Accessibility #AccessibilityTool #SoftwareTesting

Have you ever tried using your website with just the keyboard? On accessible websites, this is no problem. Even with your eyes closed! (For this, you need to activate your computer's voice-over function). If this doesn't work on your site, assistive apps (e.g., for people with visual and hearing impairments) won't be very helpful either. They work well only with accessible websites. Here is an article on how to check and improve your site's accessibility. Or, just contact me! https://lnkd.in/exbTmV2a

I am excited to share!  Our Team member Vel Murugan has just published an insightful blog on Accessibility Testing. 🎉 In a world where inclusivity matters more than ever, ensuring that our digital products are accessible to everyone is not just a good practice—it's essential. This blog dives deep into the importance of accessibility testing, key strategies, and tools that can help make sure our apps and websites are usable by all. Check out the blog to learn more about:   • Why Accessibility Testing Matters   • How to Perform Accessibility Testing   • Common Misconceptions About Accessibility Testing 💡 Let's make the web a better place for everyone! https://lnkd.in/gVxmG_yC #Accessibility #WebDevelopment #InclusiveDesign #Testing #TechForGood

Accessibility overlays are not for disabled people by Martin Underhill “Accessibility overlays are for non-disabled people by non-disabled people. The only way to properly address accessibility issues is at the product development level: carefully considered designs and well written code. Adding a single line of JavaScript to your website or app is not the answer.” #accessibility #a11y #AccessibilityOverlay #AccessibilityWidget

Have you ever seen an icon like the ones below on a website and wondered what it is? Well, it's an accessibility widget. What's its use? 👇 For users: One of the main roles of an accessibility widget is to allow users to make accessibility modifications based on their individual needs. Depending on the complexity of each widget, users can benefit from a customized browsing experience on the site they're visiting, sometimes with the ability to select from a range of predefined disabilities (as offered by the Accessi+ widget). For website users: ✅ They can increase their user base. ✅ Enhance their brand image as inclusive and accessible to all users. Important! Just having an accessibility widget does not guarantee compliance with international web accessibility standards, but it is a great complementary solution to accessibility processes and reporting that helps increase accessibility and a better user experience.