Checking your work.
WHAT AUTOMATED TOOLS FIND
Missing alternative text Contrast failures Missing labels Structural problems
WHAT THEY DO NOT FIND
Whether alternative text is meaningful Whether the order makes sense Whether the interface is actually usable
WHAT THAT MEANS
Automated checks are necessary and insufficient.
WHAT TO DO MANUALLY
Navigate the whole interface by keyboard Increase text size substantially View in greyscale Listen to a page with a screen reader Operate it one-handed on a phone
WHAT TO TEST WITH PEOPLE
The main tasks, with people who use assistive technology, where you can.
WHAT TO PRIORITISE
Anything blocking a task entirely.
WHAT TO RECORD
What you tested and what you found.
WHAT TO BUILD IN
Accessibility checks before anything ships.
WHY
Retrofitting costs far more than building it in.
WHAT TO REVIEW
After any significant change.
