Website accessibility isn’t just a moral imperative-it’s a strategic necessity that can transform how your business connects with users. At Search Savvy, we’ve seen firsthand how proper accessibility implementation opens doors to wider audiences while strengthening SEO performance and legal compliance. With the digital landscape evolving rapidly and the European Accessibility Act becoming legally applicable in EU member states on June 28, 2025, understanding how to check and improve website accessibility has never been more critical.
According to Search Savvy’s insights, approximately 15% of the world’s population-around 1.3 billion people-live with some form of disability. That’s not just a statistic; it’s a massive audience that deserves equal access to your content, products, and services. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or content creator, this comprehensive guide will walk you through manual accessibility checks and the best tools available in 2025 to ensure your website welcomes everyone.
What Is Website Accessibility and Why Does It Matter in 2025?
Website accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing digital content that can be used by everyone, including people with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities. This means ensuring your website works seamlessly with assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and voice commands.
The importance of website accessibility extends far beyond compliance. Accessible websites often rank better in search engines because accessibility best practices overlap with SEO principles. When you optimize for accessibility, you’re simultaneously improving user experience for everyone-not just those with disabilities.
In 2025, the legal landscape has become more defined. The Department of Justice published a final rule requiring state and local governments to ensure web content and mobile apps comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, with many organizations facing an April 24, 2026 deadline. At Search Savvy, we recommend staying ahead of these regulations by implementing comprehensive accessibility testing now.
How Does Website Accessibility Work in 2025?
Website accessibility operates on four fundamental principles known as POUR, established by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG):
Perceivable: Content must be presented in ways all users can perceive. This includes providing text alternatives for images, captions for videos, and ensuring adequate color contrast.
Operable: Users must be able to navigate your site using various input methods, including keyboard-only navigation, voice commands, and assistive technologies.
Understandable: Content and interactions should be clear, consistent, and intuitive. Forms should have descriptive labels, error messages should be helpful, and navigation should be predictable.
Robust: Content must work reliably across different browsers, devices, and assistive technologies, both now and in the future.
WCAG 2.2 was approved as ISO/IEC 40500:2025 by the International Organization for Standardization on October 21, 2025, establishing it as a truly global benchmark for digital accessibility. The latest version introduces nine new success criteria focused on improving experiences for users with low vision, cognitive disabilities, and motor impairments.
Why Is Manual Accessibility Testing Important in 2025?
Website accessibility cannot be fully assessed through automated tools alone. While automation is valuable, automated tools catch only 30-50% of accessibility issues, making manual testing essential.
Manual testing allows you to:
- Evaluate the logical flow and intuitiveness of navigation
- Test real-world scenarios with assistive technologies
- Assess whether content makes sense in context
- Identify issues that require human judgment, like whether alternative text truly conveys image meaning
- Verify that dynamic content and interactive elements work properly
At Search Savvy, we emphasize that the most effective accessibility strategy combines both automated scanning and thorough manual evaluation. This dual approach ensures comprehensive coverage and catches nuances that algorithms might miss.
What Are the Essential Manual Accessibility Checks?
Keyboard Navigation Testing
Keyboard navigation is foundational to accessibility. Many users with motor disabilities rely on keyboards rather than mice, and blind users also typically use keyboards for navigation.
Here’s what to check manually:
Tab Order and Logic: Press the Tab key to move through interactive elements. The focus should follow a logical sequence that matches the visual layout-typically left to right, top to bottom. Shift+Tab should move backward through elements.
Visible Focus Indicators: Every interactive element must have a clear visual indicator when it receives focus. WCAG 2.2 requires that focused items must stay at least partly visible on the screen and not be obscured by other content.
Skip Navigation Links: Test for “skip to main content” links that allow keyboard users to bypass repetitive navigation menus and jump directly to the primary content.
No Keyboard Traps: Ensure users can navigate into and out of all page sections using only the keyboard. Pop-ups, modals, and embedded content must trap focus appropriately while open and release it when closed.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Verify that all interactive elements work with standard keys: Enter or Space for buttons, Arrow keys for dropdown menus, and Escape to dismiss dialogs.
Screen Reader Testing
Screen readers convert text and interface elements into synthesized speech or braille output. Testing with actual screen readers reveals how well your content translates to non-visual users.
Popular screen readers to test with:
- NVDA (Windows, free)
- JAWS (Windows, paid)
- VoiceOver (Mac/iOS, built-in)
- TalkBack (Android, built-in)
When testing with screen readers, listen for:
- Descriptive alternative text for images
- Proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
- Clear form labels and instructions
- Meaningful link text (avoid “click here”)
- Logical reading order that matches visual layout
Color Contrast Testing
WCAG 2.1 Level AA requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. While automated tools can measure contrast ratios, manual review helps ensure color choices work in real-world contexts.
Check contrast for:
- Body text against backgrounds
- Interactive elements like buttons and links
- Text overlaid on images
- Error messages and notifications
- Focus indicators
Form and Input Testing
Forms present common accessibility challenges. Manually test by:
- Navigating through forms using only the keyboard
- Verifying that each input has a descriptive label
- Checking that error messages clearly identify problems and suggest solutions
- Ensuring required fields are properly marked
- Testing that form submission and validation work with assistive technologies
Dynamic Content Testing
Content that changes without a page reload requires special attention:
- Test live regions that announce updates to screen reader users
- Verify that modal dialogs trap focus and can be dismissed
- Check that loading indicators communicate progress
- Ensure auto-updating content doesn’t disrupt user experience
What Are the Best Accessibility Testing Tools to Use in 2025?
While manual testing is essential, powerful tools can accelerate your accessibility journey. Here are Search Savvy’s top recommendations for 2025:
Automated Testing Tools
Google Lighthouse stands out as a versatile, free tool integrated directly into Chrome’s DevTools, offering robust basic accessibility checks alongside performance, SEO, and best practices audits. It runs automated scans and generates detailed reports with specific violations and recommendations.
Best for: Quick initial assessments, developers working in Chrome, comprehensive site audits
2. WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
WAVE provides visual feedback by inserting colored icons directly onto webpage elements, with red icons marking definite WCAG violations, yellow alerts requiring human judgment, and green icons indicating positive features. Available as browser extensions or through a web interface.
Best for: Visual learners, educational purposes, identifying specific problem areas
3. axe DevTools
axe DevTools is designed to inspire trust, work fast, and function everywhere for professional web developers, promoting digital equality through automated testing. It provides detailed technical information and integrates well into development workflows.
Best for: Developers, continuous integration testing, detailed technical reports
Accessibility Insights for Web is a powerful browser extension for Chrome and Microsoft Edge that offers two primary functionalities: FastPass for detecting common issues in less than five minutes, and Assessment for comprehensive WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance evaluation.
Best for: Comprehensive manual testing guided workflows, WCAG 2.2 AA compliance
5. AudioEye
AudioEye’s free Website Accessibility Checker scans content for 30 WCAG violations-more than any other tool on the market-and supplements testing with Expert Audits from accessibility experts and individuals from the disability community.
Best for: Enterprise solutions, ongoing monitoring, expert support
Specialized Accessibility Tools
Color Contrast Checkers
Multiple free tools help verify color combinations meet WCAG standards:
- WebAIM Contrast Checker
- Colorable
- Contrast plugins for design tools like Figma and Adobe XD
Screen Reader Simulators
While not replacements for real screen readers, simulators can provide quick insights:
- ChromeVox (Chrome extension)
- Built-in browser reader modes
Browser Extensions for Quick Checks
How Can You Create a Comprehensive Accessibility Testing Workflow?
At Search Savvy, we recommend implementing a systematic approach to accessibility testing:
Phase 1: Automated Scanning Start with automated tools to catch low-hanging fruit. Run Lighthouse, WAVE, or axe DevTools to identify obvious issues like missing alt text, poor contrast, and improper heading structure.
Phase 2: Manual Keyboard Testing Navigate your entire site using only a keyboard. Test all interactive elements, forms, and navigation paths. Document any keyboard traps or unclear focus indicators.
Phase 3: Screen Reader Testing Use actual screen readers to experience your site as non-sighted users would. This reveals issues with content structure, labeling, and reading order that automated tools miss.
Phase 4: Real User Testing Whenever possible, involve people with disabilities in your testing process. Their lived experience provides invaluable insights that no tool can replicate.
Phase 5: Continuous Monitoring Tools like Eficode Accessibility Keeper and ACHECKS provide continuous monitoring of websites to track accessibility status and reduce manual verification tasks. Regular scanning catches new issues as content evolves.
What Are Common Accessibility Issues to Watch For?
Based on Search Savvy’s experience auditing hundreds of websites, here are the most frequent problems:
Images Without Alternative Text: Every meaningful image needs descriptive alt text. Decorative images should have empty alt attributes (alt=””).
Poor Heading Structure: Headings should follow a logical hierarchy without skipping levels. They serve as navigation landmarks for screen reader users.
Insufficient Color Contrast: Text must be readable against its background. This affects users with low vision and those viewing screens in bright environments.
Missing Form Labels: Every input field needs a properly associated label element, not just placeholder text.
Inaccessible Custom Controls: Custom dropdowns, modals, and interactive elements often lack proper keyboard support and ARIA attributes.
Auto-Playing Media: Videos and audio that play automatically without user control can be disorienting and disruptive, especially for screen reader users.
Time Limits Without Options: Forms and processes with time limits must allow users to extend or disable timeouts.
How Does WCAG 2.2 Change Accessibility Requirements?
WCAG 2.2 was published on October 5, 2023, providing nine additional success criteria since WCAG 2.1. These new requirements address modern web challenges:
Focus Not Obscured (Minimum): Ensures focused elements remain at least partially visible, addressing issues with sticky headers and overlays.
Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced): The AAA-level version requires focused elements to be fully visible.
Dragging Movements: Any functionality requiring dragging must have a single-pointer alternative, benefiting users with motor impairments.
Target Size (Minimum): Interactive elements like buttons and links must be at least 24×24 CSS pixels, making them easier to tap or click.
Consistent Help: Help mechanisms must appear in the same location across multiple pages.
Redundant Entry: Information previously entered shouldn’t need to be re-entered in the same process.
Accessible Authentication: Authentication processes shouldn’t rely solely on cognitive function tests like memorizing passwords or solving puzzles.
These updates reflect real-world usage patterns and address feedback from users with disabilities, making WCAG 2.2 the most comprehensive accessibility standard to date.
FAQ: Your Website Accessibility Questions Answered
Q: How much does website accessibility testing cost?
A: Costs vary widely. Many excellent tools offer free tiers, including Google Lighthouse, WAVE, and axe DevTools. Comprehensive manual audits from accessibility experts typically range from $2,000 to $20,000 depending on site complexity. At Search Savvy, we find that combining free automated tools with periodic professional audits provides the best value for most organizations.
Q: Can I make my website fully accessible using only automated tools?
A: No. Automated tools acknowledge that scanning catches only about a quarter of accessibility issues, as many aspects require human judgment. Automated testing should be supplemented with manual evaluation and, ideally, testing with real users who have disabilities.
Q: What’s the difference between WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2?
A: WCAG 2.2 includes all success criteria from WCAG 2.1 plus nine new criteria focused on mobile users and people with cognitive or motor disabilities. Content that meets WCAG 2.2 automatically meets WCAG 2.1 and 2.0. The W3C encourages using the latest version.
Q: How long does it take to make a website accessible?
A: Timeline depends on your site’s size and current state. Addressing automated tool findings might take days to weeks. Comprehensive accessibility remediation for a large, complex site could take months. However, new sites built with accessibility in mind from the start require minimal additional time or cost.
Q: Do I need to make my website accessible if I’m a small business?
A: While some regulations specifically target government entities and large businesses, many leading countries are implementing disability acts that require digital accessibility guidelines compliance, with non-compliance potentially resulting in costly fines and lawsuits. Beyond legal requirements, accessibility expands your potential customer base and demonstrates social responsibility.
Q: What happens if someone files an accessibility lawsuit against my website?
A: Accessibility lawsuits have increased significantly. If you receive a demand letter or lawsuit, consult with an attorney experienced in digital accessibility law. Demonstrating good-faith efforts to improve accessibility and having a remediation plan in place can help your case. Proactive accessibility implementation is always more cost-effective than reactive legal defense.
Conclusion: Making Website Accessibility a Priority in 2025
Website accessibility is no longer optional-it’s a fundamental requirement for creating inclusive digital experiences that serve all users. With WCAG 2.2’s approval as ISO/IEC 40500:2025 establishing accessibility as a global benchmark and regulations tightening worldwide, 2025 is the year to prioritize accessibility testing and remediation.
At Search Savvy, we’ve seen how accessibility improvements transform businesses. They open doors to new audiences, improve SEO performance, reduce legal risk, and demonstrate commitment to inclusion. The combination of powerful automated tools and thorough manual testing makes comprehensive accessibility achievable for organizations of all sizes.
Start your accessibility journey today by running a quick automated scan, then gradually incorporate manual testing techniques. Remember that accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. As your content evolves and standards advance, continuous monitoring and improvement ensure your website remains welcoming to everyone.
The web should be accessible to all-and with the right tools and testing methods, you can make that vision a reality for your organization in 2025 and beyond.
