How to Test Website Accessibility Without Automation Tools

Anytime someone comes to your website, they should have a seamless experience — whether they’re browsing with a mouse, using assistive technologies like a screen reader, or navigating by keyboard. Ensuring your site is accessible to these users allows everyone, regardless of their abilities, to interact with your content. 

If you’re already here, you understand the importance of accessibility — from both a user and legal perspective. You want to improve your website, but you may not have the budget for expensive compliance tools or outside help. That’s where manual testing comes in. It’s a great starting point and much more effective than doing nothing at all.

Below, you’ll learn a few simple, effective ways to start testing — and improving — your site’s accessibility. However, it’s important to note accessibility isn’t something you can fully DIY. While testing for accessibility on your own can catch some barriers, true compliance and accessibility require deeper expertise and ongoing improvements. We’ll cover this in more detail below.

Manual Website Accessibility Testing: The Basics

What is Manual Accessibility Testing?

Manual accessibility testing evaluates a website’s usability for people with disabilities by interacting with just as one of your users would. Instead of relying on automated tools, manual testing involves hands-on checks, such as navigating with a keyboard, using a screen reader, or ensuring proper color contrast. 

The approach is beneficial as it allows you to assess the user experience in ways automated tools can’t. For example, an automated scanner can detect missing alt text on an image, but it can’t tell if the existing alt text is useful or descriptive. Similarly, it can flag missing form labels but won’t confirm whether those labels provide meaningful guidance.

Can You Achieve Full Compliance with Only Manual Testing?

While manual testing is an essential part of web accessibility, it’s not enough on its own to guarantee full compliance with accessibility laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act(opens in a new tab) (ADA) or the European Accessibility Act(opens in a new tab) (EAA) or conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.(opens in a new tab) That’s because:

• Manual testing is time-intensive. Checking every web page, button, and user interaction on your own can be overwhelming, especially if you have a larger website.

• Some accessibility issues are invisible to the human eye. Things like proper ARIA roles or missing semantic HTML might not be immediately obvious without code inspection. 

• Laws and standards evolve. Staying compliant requires ongoing testing and updates, which can be challenging without some automation.

That said, even with automation, manual testing can still uncover major barriers and significantly impact usability.

Where Does Manual Testing End and Automation Begin?

The line between manual and automated testing isn’t always obvious, especially when automated accessibility testing tools are brought in to help. Here’s how the two approaches compare and where they overlap:

• Manual testing only: This involves an individual evaluating a website on their own, navigating through content with a keyboard, listening to a screen reader, or checking color contrast. No automated tools are used — just hands-on interaction with the site.

• Manual testing with automation assistance: This is still primarily a manual process, but testers use automated tools to help identify potential issues. For example, an accessibility scanner might highlight missing alt text, but a human still needs to verify that the alt text is meaningful. 

• Fully automated testing: This involves running scripts or software to scan a website for accessibility issues without human interaction. These tools can check for code-level problems in real-time, like missing alternative text (also called alt text) or improper heading structures, but they can’t assess usability.

Stylized web browser with 'WCAG' across the top and various UX design icons on the screen. A woman in a thinking posture is on the left of the screen and the accessibility icon is on the right.

Pros and Cons of Manual Accessibility Tests

As we mentioned above, manual accessibility testing has strengths and weaknesses. While it provides valuable insights into real user experiences, it also has limitations, especially for larger websites.

Pros

• Nuanced and specific: Human testers can evaluate real-world visibility — something automated tools can’t fully replicate.

• Accurate testing or real users’ needs: Manual testing allows you to better simulate how individuals with disabilities interact with your site, as you can involve members of the disability community in your testing processes.

• Can catch context-specific issues: Testers can assess whether alt text is meaningful, formats are usable, and interactive elements work as expected.

• Helps identify usability barriers: Unlike automated tools that only flag technical errors, manual testing can highlight users' difficulties.

Cons

• Time-consuming: Manually checking every page and interaction takes significant time, especially for larger or more complex websites. 

• Lacks scalability: Testing an entire website manually isn’t practical, especially for frequent updates or large-scale content.

• High risk of human error: Without structured guidelines, testers may overlook key accessibility issues or inconsistencies, which can affect your content’s overall usability.

• Not a standalone solution: As mentioned above, manual testing alone cannot guarantee full compliance with accessibility standards or regulations. True compliance requires automation and expert review.

While manual testing is essential, it’s most effective when combined with automated accessibility testing tools. Automation helps identify widespread technical issues quickly, while manual testing ensures a high-quality user experience. Together, they create a more comprehensive approach to accessibility.

Accessibility Issues that can be Tested Manually

While manual testing does have its limitations, it can help you take more proactive steps toward creating a more accessible website. From simplifying language to improving the navigation experience for keyboard and assistive technology users, here are a few quick accessibility tests you can run on your own. Each test will help you understand how users with disabilities interact with your site and where improvements are needed.

Language Accessibility

Language should be clear, simple, and well-structured so all users, including those with cognitive disabilities or non-native speakers, can understand the content. Complicated language, unclear instructions, or poor formatting can create unnecessary accessibility barriers. 

To test for this, try reading your content out loud — does it sound natural and easy to follow? Or is it chalked full of jargon only those in your industry could understand? Use short sentences, clear headings, and avoid the overuse of jargon or acronyms unless you fully explain them. Additionally, break up long paragraphs and use bullet points where appropriate to improve scannability.

Keyboard Navigation

Many users, including individuals with motor disabilities or visual impairments, rely on a keyboard rather than a mouse to navigate websites. If your digital content isn’t keyboard-friendly, it can become impossible for them to interact with it.

To test for keyboard navigation on your own, try unplugging or turning off your mouse and navigating your content using only the ‘Tab’ key. Can you reach all links, buttons, and form fields? Pay attention to focus indicators — there should be a visible outline or highlight showing which element is selected. Also, check whether dropdown menus, pop-ups, and other interactive elements can be opened and closed without using your mouse. If any areas are inaccessible, they need adjustments to be keyboard-friendly.

Visual Accessibility

Users with visual impairments, color blindness, or low vision may struggle with readability if the color contrast is poor or if fonts are difficult to read. Additionally, websites that rely solely on color to convey meaning can be confusing for these users. 

Using color contrast checkers (like this free one from AudioEye) can help ensure text stands out against the background and has a good color contrast ratio. WCAG recommends a minimum ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 7:1 for larger text. Text or other elements that fall below this threshold should be adjusted.

Additionally, avoid using color as the only indicator of meaning — error messages, for example, should include both color and text (e.g., “Error: Incorrect password” rather than just a red highlight). Font choices matter too — ensure text is large enough, easy to read, has enough spacing for clarity, and isn’t overly decorative.

Media Accessibility

People with visual or auditory disabilities may rely on alternative formats like captions, transcripts, and alt text to access and interact with media content. If images lack descriptions or videos don’t have captions, you’re excluding a significant portion of users from accessing information. 

To check this on your own, right-click on images and inspect the alt text. Does it provide a meaningful description of the image’s content? If there’s no alt text or if it’s too vague (e.g., image 123.png”), it needs improvement.

For videos, watch one with your sound off. Are captions available? If so, do they make sense? Auto-generated captions often lack punctuation or context, so manually reviewing them is important. If your site has podcasts or audio content, providing a written transcript can also ensure they’re accessible.

Assistive Technology

Many users use assistive technologies, including screen readers, screen magnifiers, text-to-speech software, or braille input devices to browse online content. If your site isn’t structured properly, these tools won’t work as expected. Missing labels, unclear navigation, or improperly coded elements can make content unreadable to these devices.

Using one yourself is the best way to test your site for assistive technology compatibility. Use NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac), or other free screen reader tools. Does it read everything logically? Are buttons and links labeled correctly, or do they just say “button” without providing any context? Try using a screen reader to navigate forms and menus — if they sound confusing or incomplete, they need improvement.

Testing Field Labels

Forms should be easy to navigate and complete, but if they lack clear labels or accessible error messages, users with disabilities may struggle to fill them out. Screen readers, in particular, need properly associated labels to announce the purpose of each field.

Try filling out a form without looking at the labels. Can you tell me what each field is asking for? You should also use a screen reader to navigate the form and listen to how each field is announced. Users may not know what information to enter if they aren't clearly labeled. Be sure to check how error messages are presented — does the form give clear feedback when something is entered incorrectly, or does it just highlight the box in red without any explanation?

Navigation Without Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

Some users, including those using text-based browsers or certain assistive technologies, may access your site with styles disabled. If a site relies too heavily on CSS for layout and functionality, it can become difficult to use when styles are turned off. 

To test this, disable CSS on your browser (using developer tools or a browser extension like Web Developer for Chrome). Can you still navigate the page? Does the content appear in a logical order, or does it become unreadable? If key information disappears or elements are misaligned, your site may need better structural coding to ensure usability beyond just visual styling.

Each of these accessibility tests can be done on your own to help uncover common accessibility issues. While they won’t catch everything, they’re a great starting point to enhancing accessibility.

Stylized web browser surrounded by icons of people representing various disabilities.

Expert Support: Critical to a Successful Manual Accessibility Test

Here’s the bottom line: creating a fully accessible and compliant online experience requires expert guidance. Even with the best intentions, an accessibility audit without automation or professional experience leaves gaps, especially when it comes to usability.

One major challenge is that accessibility isn’t just about following guidelines but real-world user experience. To truly understand how people with disabilities navigate a website, you need their feedback. Even better, accessibility experts who specialize in compliance can ensure your site meets legal standards while enhancing everyone's user experience.

Good: Hire Users with Disabilities for Feedback

One step toward more accurate testing is to directly involve users with disabilities. Conducting usability tests with real users — especially those who rely on assistive technology — helps uncover barriers that might be overlooked in a standard manual review. 

To do this, you can:

• Recruit testers with diverse disabilities and ask them to complete common website tasks.

• Observe how they navigate, where they struggle, and what feedback they provide.

• Use surveys or recorded usability sessions to document their experiences.

The approach is valuable, but it requires significant effort, coordination, and multiple rounds of testing to ensure full coverage.

Better: Hire Accessibility Experts with Disabilities

Accessibility professionals who have lived experience with disabilities bring a deeper level of insight. Unlike general usability testers, they better understand the technical and compliance aspects of digital accessibility, ensuring your website meets ADA compliance requirements and WCAG standards. 

Working with an expert means you:

• Get more efficient identification of accessibility barriers.

• Have clear guidance on what needs to be fixed and why.

• The assurance that your site meets compliance requirements, reducing your legal risk.

While testing with accessibility experts can be effective, it is resource-intensive. That’s where automation can provide the best of both worlds.

Best: Combine Automation with Expert Testing (Hybrid Approach)

The most reliable way to create an accessible, compliant site is to combine expert human testing with automation. Automated tools can quickly scan for common issues, while human testers evaluate usability and confirm compliance with nuanced accessibility standards. 

This is the exact approach that AudioEye takes, enabling you to achieve industry-leading compliance with accessibility laws. We accomplish this with our:

• AI-driven automation technology: Our free Website Accessibility Checker scans your digital content to detect 30 WCAG violations (more than any other tool on the market). AudioEye’s Automated Accessibility Platform then automatically fixes these issues, streamlining your path to compliance. 

• Audits with experts from the disability community: AudioEye supplements are automated testing with Expert Audits from accessibility experts and members of the disability community, providing you with the highest levels of protection in the industry. 

• Testing during the development process: We bring accessibility directly into your content creation process via our Developer Tools. This helps you proactively detect and fix accessibility issues early, minimizing the need for costly fixes later on. 

With AudioEye’s three-pronged approach to accessibility, creating a more accessible and compliant website, mobile app, or other digital content is fast, seamless, and budget-friendly. Plus, with AudioEye Assurance, you’ll enjoy a level of protection that’s 400% better than consulting or automation-only approaches. 

Ready to get started? Use our free Web Accessibility Scanner and Color Contrast Checker to take your first steps toward more accessible digital content. 

Want to see how AudioEye can help you achieve industry-leading compliance at 90% less cost? Schedule a demo today.