WCAG Testing Process

Preliminary Site Audit

Most websites are template-based so it is sufficient to test a subset of the pages. During the preliminary audit we use manual inspection and automated tools to determine which pages should be tested.

We also determine whether testing should be fully manual or if the manual testing should be enhanced with the use of automated tools.

At this stage it is often possible to advise what level of accessibility can be achieved cost effectively, thereby preventing unnecessary expenditure on testing for accessibility levels that cannot be attained.

How Much Testing is Needed?

The WCAG are divided into three Priority levels, with Priority 1 criteria being the most important. The level of testing that is required depends on the level of accessibility you want to achieve.

Priority 1

There are 16 Priority 1 criteria that must be met, otherwise one or more groups will find it impossible to access information in the document. A site meeting these requirements may be classified as being Level A or Level 1.

Priority 2

There are 30 Priority 2 criteria that should be met, otherwise one or more groups will find it difficult to access information in the document. A site meeting these requirements may be classified as being Level AA or Level 2.

Priority 3

There are 19 Priority 3 criteria that may be met, otherwise one or more groups will find it somewhat difficult to access information in the document. A site meeting these requirements may be classified as being Level AAA or Level 3.

Presenting the Results

The test results are delivered in a format that allows your developers to understand the issues and implement any necessary changes. These highly granular results are presented in a spreadsheet, while the Management Summary provides a top-level view.

The deliverables can be tailored to your particular needs, including the production of remedial code, consultancy and design guidelines for designers and content editors.