Web accessibility testing: a plain guide to WCAG 2.2
Accessibility testing makes sure people with disabilities can actually use your product. The standard is WCAG 2.2, and the honest truth is that tools catch only part of it. Here is what accessibility testing involves and where to start.
By Quality AboveAll · May 11, 2026 · 7 min read
Accessibility testing makes sure people with disabilities can use your product. WCAG 2.2 is the standard. Automated tools catch about a third of issues; the rest need a human.
What accessibility testing is
Accessibility testing checks that everyone can use your product, including people who navigate by keyboard, use a screen reader, or need high contrast. The benchmark is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, usually at the AA level. We deliver this as accessibility testing.
Why a scan is not enough
Automated tools like axe are useful, but they catch only around a third of WCAG issues. They can read colour contrast; they cannot tell whether your custom dropdown makes sense to a screen reader. The rest needs manual testing with real assistive technology. WebAIM publishes good background on this.
The checks that catch the most
- Keyboard only. Can you reach and use everything with the Tab key, no mouse? This single check surfaces most failures.
- Screen reader. Does every control announce itself clearly and in a sensible order?
- Contrast and text. Is text readable, and does the layout survive larger font sizes?
- Forms. Are fields labelled and errors announced, not just shown in red?
Accessibility is a finite checklist, not an open-ended worry. WCAG 2.2 AA gives you a finish line.
Why it is worth doing
It widens your audience, lowers legal risk, and tends to improve usability for everyone. It also overlaps with good usability testing. We hand you a fix list ranked by user impact, so you start where it counts.
Not sure where your product stands against WCAG 2.2? A testing audit gives you a clear, prioritised picture.
Senior-led QA,embedded in your workflow.
Often less than one full-time hire. Book a free 30-minute testing audit and we'll show you exactly where the risk is hiding.