When planning accessibility testing, you'll encounter two main approaches: automated scanning tools and manual human testing. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each helps you build an effective testing strategy.
Automated Testing
Automated tools scan your website's code and identify potential accessibility issues based on programmatic rules.
What Automated Testing Catches
- Missing alt text on images
- Color contrast failures
- Missing form labels
- Empty links and buttons
- Missing document language
- Invalid ARIA attributes
Strengths
- Speed: Scan hundreds of pages in minutes
- Consistency: Same rules applied every time
- Coverage: Check your entire site, not just samples
- Cost-effective: Much cheaper than manual audits
Limitations
- Can only check ~30-50% of WCAG criteria
- Can't judge if alt text is actually meaningful
- Can't evaluate reading order or logical structure
Manual Testing
Manual testing involves humans evaluating your site using assistive technologies and following WCAG criteria.
What Manual Testing Catches
- Alt text that's present but unhelpful
- Confusing focus order
- Poor keyboard navigation experience
- Incomprehensible screen reader announcements
- Cognitive accessibility issues
Strengths
- Can evaluate subjective criteria
- Tests real user experience
- Catches issues automation misses
Limitations
- Time-consuming: Hours to audit a single page
- Expensive: Expert audits cost $5,000-$30,000+
- Limited coverage: Usually samples pages
The Hybrid Approach
The most effective strategy combines both approaches:
- Start with Automated Testing: Run SiteDNA scans to identify the "low-hanging fruit"
- Fix Automated Findings: Address clear violations first
- Perform Manual Testing on Key Flows: Test critical user journeys with keyboard and screen readers
- Implement Continuous Monitoring: Run automated scans regularly to catch regressions
Getting Started
SiteDNA provides comprehensive automated accessibility audits that identify issues across your entire site. Our reports prioritize issues by impact and provide specific guidance for fixing each one.
Start with a free scan to see where your site stands, then plan your remediation strategy accordingly.