Know accessibility better

Accessibility is the practice of designing experiences, products, environments, and technologies that can be used by everyone — including people with disabilities. It’s about removing barriers and ensuring equal access, whether someone is navigating a website, using a mobile app, or interacting with a physical space.

What is web accessibility?

Web accessibility ensures that websites and online content are usable by people with varying abilities. It enables access to information and interaction for users with visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities, making digital experiences inclusive and barrier-free.

POUR principles

(Ref: www.w3.org)

Perceivable

Information must be presented in ways all users can perceive.

This means that users must be able to perceive the information being presented. (It can't be invisible to all of their senses).

Operable

User interface components and navigation must be operable.

This means that users must be able to operate the interface (the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform).

Understandable

Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable.

This means that users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface (the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding

Robust

Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

This means that users must be able to access the content as technologies advance (as technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible)

WCAG 2.2 and Conformance levels

WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the latest global standard for web accessibility, built upon earlier versions like 2.0 and 2.1. It introduces success criteria that support low vision, cognitive, and motor impairments.

WCAG conformance is structured into three levels

Level A – Basic accessibility

Level A criteria provide essential accessibility support, offering the most fundamental benefits to a wide range of users. However, since they represent the minimum level of compliance, some accessibility barriers may still remain for specific user groups.

Level AA – Most commonly adopted; legally expected

This conformance level is most commonly specified in accessibility regulations and legal agreements. It outlines enhanced accessibility requirements that support a broader spectrum of users, including those who depend on assistive technologies.

Level AAA – Highest accessibility (ideal, but not always practical)

This represents the highest level of conformance, encompassing all success criteria from Levels A, AA, and AAA. However, achieving Level AAA may not be feasible or relevant in all contexts, as not every criterion applies universally across digital experiences. While most organizations aim for Level AA, some may choose to implement select AAA criteria to further enhance accessibility.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the most widely accepted international standards for web accessibility. However, many regions have their own accessibility laws and regulations — such as Section 508 and the ADA in the United States, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) in the European Union.
These regional standards are largely based on or aligned with WCAG, making it the core reference point for digital accessibility around the world.

WCAG is not a law but a set of guidelines that many laws, like the ADA and Section 508, reference as a standard to achieve digital accessibility. Laws define the goal—WCAG provides the roadmap to reach it.

Begin Testing

To assess WCAG conformance, start by evaluating your website or digital content. This involves a systematic process of thoroughly testing whether the experience is accessible to people with disabilities. A comprehensive accessibility evaluation typically combines automated testing with detailed manual reviews to ensure all aspects are covered.

It’s important to note that accessibility checks are not limited to web content alone. Other digital interfaces, such as mobile apps and documents, can also benefit from applying web accessibility guidelines. Below are some useful resources to help improve the accessibility of your digital products.

Design accessibility

WebAIM Contrast Checker - To check the contrast ratio between the foreground and background colours
Accessible Colour picker - A chrome extension to check the contrast ratio
Accessibiliy design kits - Free toolkit for Figma

Mobile accessibility

Accessibility Scanner - To check the accessibility of Android apps
Accessibility Inspector - To check accessibiliity of iOS apps

Document accessibility

PDF accessibility checker (PAC) – check basis accessibility of PDF document in Windows operating system

Manual vs Automated Testing

Accessibility evaluation can be approached in two main ways—manual testing and automated testing each with its own strengths and limitations.

Manual Testing involves human judgment to assess how real users, especially those with disabilities interact with digital interfaces. It includes testing with assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and evaluating things like content meaning, focus order, and overall usability. This approach captures contextual and experiential issues that automated tools may miss.
Automated Testing, on the other hand, uses software tools to scan for common accessibility issues such as missing alt text, insufficient color contrast, or improper heading structure. It's fast, consistent, and great for early detection, but it lacks the nuance to evaluate user experience or interpret content intent.

Simply put, manual testing offers depth and human perspective, while automated testing offers speed and scale. A integrated approach is essential for a complete accessibility evaluation.

Integrated approach for Accessibility evaluation

Manual and automated testing both have their own strengths and limitations. Therefore the best practice is to integrate both methods—using automated tools to identify and fix obvious issues early, and complementing them with detailed manual testing to ensure a thorough and human-centered accessibility evaluation. This combination leads to more accurate, complete, and user-friendly digital experiences for all.

At Graynule, we offer comprehensive Accessibility Audits and related services to help you achieve true digital inclusion. Our audits combine automated testing, manual evaluation, and real-user perspectives to uncover and address accessibility gaps effectively.

Whether you need to meet compliance standards like WCAG, ADA, Section 508, or the RPWD Act (India), or you simply want to create a more inclusive digital experience, we offer clear insights, actionable recommendations, and ongoing support to help you succeed. As part of our services, we provide Accessibility Compliance Reports (ACR) in standard VPAT (Voluntarily Product Accessibility Template) format as well as customized formats tailored to your organization’s needs.

Let's make accessibility a seamless and strategic part of your digital growth.

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