Welcome to episode 132 of the Testing Peers Podcast.
This time, joining David and Chris are the returning Rachel Kibler and first-time host Vanessa Zettler, with the Peers discussing Software That Cares.
The opening banter leads us to discuss our glasses prescriptions, and then that leads us into the main body of the episode where Testing Peers discuss what it means to build inclusive, accessible digital products, and why it’s not just about compliance, but about empathy, dignity, and quality.
Talking Points:
Key Quote “There is no average user.” – A reminder that designing for the “average” often excludes everyone.
Accessibility as a Civil Rights Issue
Digital access is essential in modern life. The team explore why accessibility is about equity and inclusion, not just regulations.
Temporary vs. Permanent Disability
The group reflects on how anyone can join the disabled community at any time—making accessibility everyone’s responsibility.
Legal Landscape
- Landmark US cases: Robles v. Domino’s and Access Now v. Blue Apron
- Growth of lawsuits in e-commerce
- UK legislation: Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations
Beyond the Checklist
- WCAG 2.1 AA as the global standard
- The limitations of automated tools and “accessibility widgets”
- Importance of manual validation, especially with screen readers
The Role of Testers & Quality Engineers
Testers often become accessibility advocates by default: identifying, championing, and embedding inclusive practices across teams.
Inclusive Design from the Start
Accessibility must be considered from the beginning, not just at testing, bringing in copywriters, designers, and developers early.
Emotional Sensitivity in UX
Rachel highlights the need to consider emotional impact, particularly during difficult times, when crafting user-facing messages.
Useful Tools & Resources
DOCUMENTATION
https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/ [The international authority on accessibility. This is THE source material.]
Don’t know where to start? Start here! [https://www.w3.org/WAI/test-evaluate/easy-checks/]
SCREEN READER TOOLS
Most people are using these screen readers:
APPLE
VoiceOver, Built into all Apple devices. [https://www.apple.com/accessibility/features/?vision]
WINDOWS/ANDROID
NVDA [https://www.nvaccess.org/download/]
JAWS [https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/jaws/]
TalkBack (for Android) [https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/topic/10601571]
TESTING TOOLS
https://www.deque.com/axe/devtools/ [One of the best browser extensions to evaluate a site’s WCAG compliance]
https://wave.webaim.org/ [Browser extensions, APIs, and testing engines]
https://www.siteimprove.com/integrations/browser-extensions/ [Browser extension]
https://www.siteimprove.com/toolkit/color-contrast-checker/ [Colour contrast checker]
https://www.w3.org/developers/tools/ [collection of useful tools, developed by W3]
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