Capsule 15

Accessibility testing and WACG

General Information about the Capsule

Name: Accessibility testing and WACG
Identifier: ENACTEST_ID_15
Language: English
Category: Lesson/ Tool/ Exercise 
Keywords: Accessibility testing – WCAG – Inclusivity – legal requirements – framework – perceivability – operability – understandability – robustness 

Description:
Accessibility testing ensures that digital products like websites and applications are usable by people with disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. It promotes inclusivity, aligns with legal requirements, and enhances the user experience for everyone. Accessibility testing evaluates whether a digital product meets established accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies and accessibility for users with various needs. 

Accessibility is crucial because it fosters equality, ensures compliance with regulations, and broadens the reach of digital products to include individuals with disabilities. WCAG provides a globally recognized framework for accessibility, offering principles and guidelines focused on perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness. 

European governments have incorporated WCAG standards into regulations like the European Accessibility Act and EN 301 549, mandating compliance for public and private sector entities. Various tools assist in accessibility testing, including automated checkers, screen readers, and browser extensions, streamlining the identification and remediation of accessibility issues. 

The course provides a structured approach to mastering accessibility testing, from basic concepts to advanced techniques. Participants will receive guidance on configuring a testing environment that integrates accessibility tools and supports effective workflows. Real-world scenarios will demonstrate how to test for accessibility, interpret results, and implement fixes. 

Supporting Materials

Poster Slides

Cost: Free
Copyright and Other Restrictions: Yes
Description: Licensed for educational and research purposes.

Educational

Interactivity Type: Mixed
Learning Resource Type: : Lesson | Document | Exercise | Case Study
Interactivity Level: High
Intended End-User Role: : Bachelor student | Master student | Professional

Context: Higher Education | Professional Education
Typical Age Range: 18-25
Difficulty Level: : Beginners | Moderate | Advanced
Description of Learning Objectives:

  • Assess a digital product’s compliance with accessibility standards based on test results.
  • Justify accessibility improvements based on user experience and regulatory requirements.
  • Critique an existing accessibility testing workflow and recommend optimizations.
  • Explain the principles of WCAG (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust).
  • Describe how assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard navigation) interact with digital content.
  • Summarize the legal and ethical implications of non-compliance with accessibility standards.
  • Define accessibility testing and its importance in digital product development.
  • List the key disabilities (visual, auditory, motor, cognitive) that impact digital accessibility.
  • Identify common accessibility standards, including WCAG, European Accessibility Act, and EN 301 549.
  • Demonstrate the use of automated accessibility testing tools and screen readers.
  • Apply WCAG guidelines to assess the accessibility of a website or application.
  • Use browser extensions to identify and interpret accessibility issues.
  • Differentiate between automated, manual, and user-based accessibility testing methods.
  • Analyze accessibility test results to identify critical usability barriers.
  • Compare accessibility best practices across different industries and regulations.

Prerequisites

  • N/A

Classification of the Learning Objectives According to Bloom’s Taxonomy

  • Understand:
    ▪ Explain the principles of WCAG (Perceivable, Operable,Understandable, and Robust).
    ▪ Describe how assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard navigation) interact with digital content.
    ▪ Summarize the legal and ethical implications of non-compliance with accessibility standards.
    ▪ Define accessibility testing and its importance in digital product development.
    ▪ List the key disabilities (visual, auditory, motor, cognitive) that impact digital accessibility.
    ▪ Identify common accessibility standards, including WCAG, European Accessibility Act, and EN 301 549.

    Apply:
    ▪ Demonstrate the use of automated accessibility testing tools and screen readers.
    ▪ Apply WCAG guidelines to assess the accessibility of a website orapplication.
    ▪ Use browser extensions to identify and interpret accessibility issues.

    Analyze:
    ▪ Differentiate between automated, manual, and user-based accessibility testing methods.
    ▪ Analyze accessibility test results to identify critical usability barriers.
    ▪ Compare accessibility best practices across different industries and regulations

    Evaluate:
    ▪ Assess a digital product’s compliance with accessibility standardsbased on test results.
    ▪ Justify accessibility improvements based on user experience andregulatory requirements.
    ▪ Critique an existing accessibility testing workflow and recommend optimizations.
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