Why Disabled People Are Essential to Real Web Accessibility Testing
Why Disabled People Are Essential to Real Web Accessibility Testing
We believe that digital inclusion starts with listening. While accessibility testing tools are a helpful starting point, they are not the whole picture. Most tools detect only a small portion of the issues that real users face. If you want meaningful results, inclusive design principles must be paired with lived experience.
That is why our process begins with disabled people.
What Accessibility Testing Tools Can and Cannot Do
There are many accessibility testing tools available today, and they are useful for identifying some common problems, things like missing alt text or low contrast between text and background. However, these tools only catch a fraction of the issues that cause access barriers.
The rest can only be found by asking the people who use assistive tech every day. These are not theoretical users — they are real people who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, magnification software, and other tools just to complete basic tasks online.
Automated tests cannot tell you if a screen reader user can fill in a form easily or if a blind person can complete a purchase. These insights come from real people, not code scans.
Real People Drive Inclusive Design Principles
Inclusive design is about building websites that everyone can use. It is not a checklist or a plug-in. It is a way of thinking that considers a wide range of needs from the very beginning.
Disabled testers help shape this mindset. They flag things like missing labels, confusing navigation, and inaccessible CAPTCHA tools — the kinds of things that often slip through traditional processes.
Inclusive design principles mean asking different questions. Who might this exclude? How does it feel to use? Is this truly accessible or just technically compliant?
This approach is especially important for organisations serving a diverse user base. Accessibility is not just about meeting legal standards — it is about making sure no one is left out. This includes people with temporary impairments, older users, and those on slow internet connections or mobile devices. Inclusive design benefits everyone.
When to Go Beyond Accessibility Testing Tools
We always recommend starting with lived experience. In our audits, disabled testers carry out real tasks using assistive technologies like screen readers, magnifiers, and keyboard-only setups.
We follow this with a full WCAG 2.2 compliance check, creating an accessible roadmap that explains what to change and why. Each issue is backed by user testing video clips, giving clear evidence of the problems encountered.
This approach provides insight that accessibility testing tools alone simply cannot deliver. We believe the most powerful audits are the ones that combine technical knowledge with direct user experience. That is the standard we follow.
From Theory to Practice: Inclusive Design in Action
One of our testers recently reviewed a website for a charity. It had passed every automated scan. On paper, it was accessible. In practice, a single unlabelled button meant a screen reader user could not complete a donation.
This is where real-world insight changes everything.
Without disabled testers, that issue would have been missed. Instead, it was fixed — and now the donation process works for everyone.
This example is not unique. We have encountered similar problems with booking forms, navigation menus, and even basic site search tools. Each time, the issue was invisible to automated testing tools and only came to light through manual testing by real users.
Why It Matters
When you invest in accessibility, you are investing in people. You are showing respect, avoiding legal risk, and improving usability for all your visitors. Our approach helps organisations uncover hidden flaws, reduce support costs, and build stronger relationships with users.
Put simply: accessibility that includes disabled people is better for everyone. It leads to better websites, better outcomes, and better trust from the people who matter most — your users.
Let’s Make It Work for Everyone
If you want to understand how accessible your website really is, we would love to help. Our audits begin with lived experience and end with clarity, action, and support.
Speak to someone who uses your website differently. That is where the real journey begins.