Digital accessibility has become an essential pillar in guaranteeing the inclusion of all users, whatever their disabilities.
In a world where we are becoming increasingly dependent on the Internet, whether to register a vehicle or shop online, the democratization of its accessibility has never been more important.
In this article, we explore in depth what web accessibility is, and how to carry out digital accessibility testing to comply with government standards whose mission is to protect the interests of people with disabilities, a demographic representing 15% of the world's population.
What is Digital Accessibility?
An accessible website enables people with disabilities to access its content and functions without difficulty.
For example, an accessible site allows you to :
- Navigate with a voice synthesizer and/or Braille display (used by blind and partially-sighted people).
- Customize the site's display according to your needs (font magnification, color modification, etc.).
- Navigate without using the mouse (with the keyboard only, via a touch screen, by voice or any other adapted device).
Officially, Web accessibility is measured in terms of the four principles defined by the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines):
- Perceptibility: Information that users can understand with at least one of their senses.
- Operability: The ability of all users to interact with application components or navigation.
- Comprehensibility: The ease with which disabled users can understand the information conveyed and the application interface.
- Robustness: The ability of content to be correctly interpreted using various technologies or user devices.
Understand current Web accessibility standards
French and European digital accessibility standards
Article 47 of the Equal Opportunities Act of February 11, 2005 stipulates that all government online services must be accessible to all.
The European Directive on the Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies, adopted in 2016, also imposes strict standards to ensure this inclusivity.
The European Accessibility Act, due to come into force in 2025, will extend these obligations to private companies.
International Web accessibility standards
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), developed by the W3C, provide a set of recommendations for making web content more accessible.
These directives are divided into three levels of compliance:
- Level A: Minimum accessibility requirements.
- Level AA: Targeting a wider range of accessibility issues.
- Level AAA: The highest level of accessibility, difficult to achieve for all content.
The WCAG levels required may vary from country to country:
European Union: minimum WCAG AA level for websites and mobile applications for public sector organizations.
France: the RGAA (Référentiel Général d'Amélioration de l'Accessibilité) also requires AA level for public services.
United States: Section 508 requires compliance with WCAG 2.0 level AA criteria for websites and ICTs used by the federal government.
Canada: the federal government's website accessibility standard requires WCAG level AA.
Australia: national digital accessibility standards also recommend WCAG level AA.
Digital accessibility testing - an unavoidable necessity
To meet these requirements, Web accessibility testing is becoming essential.
They consist of evaluating and guaranteeing that web and mobile applications are usable by all, without discrimination, including several methods:
Automated testing: Use of software tools to check content compliance with accessibility standards.
Manual tests: Examination by experts who simulate the use of assistive technologies such as screen readers.
User testing: Involving people with disabilities to obtain direct feedback on the user experience.
Mr Suricate : An effective response to the challenges of digital accessibility
Mr Suricatethe French leader in automated testing, has positioned itself as a key player in helping companies meet the challenge of digital accessibility.
Thanks to its no-code SaaS platform, Mr Suricate offers robust and flexible automated testing solutions for web, mobile and API applications.
Here's how Mr Suricate specifically addresses this issue:
Automated accessibility testing
The Mr Suricate platform makes it easy to integrate accessibility testing into the development cycle, guaranteeing rapid and continuous detection of accessibility problems, thus reducing the risk of non-compliance.
Multi-platform and multi-device
Covering iOS, Android, and IoT devices, Mr Suricate ensures that all versions of an app are tested for accessibility, delivering a consistent and inclusive user experience across all devices.
Expertise and proactive support
The proactive approach of Mr Suricateproactive approach, with an advanced alert system, enables problems to be corrected before they affect end-users.
The Mr Suricateteam of testing and accessibility experts provides ongoing support to optimize processes and ensure compliance.
Monitoring and maintenance
Mr Suricate doesn't stop at initial testing.
The platform provides continuous monitoring of user paths to detect and rectify new accessibility issues that may arise after content updates or modifications.
RGPD compliance and security
In addition to accessibility, Mr Suricate is committed to security and privacy standards, including RGPD compliance, offering a complete and secure solution.
Digital accessibility - as much a legal obligation as a moral one
Mr Suricatewith its advanced automated testing solutions and proactive expertise, is the partner of choice for companies wishing to ensure the accessibility of their online services.
By adopting a rigorous, ongoing testing strategy, companies can not only comply with standards, but also improve the user experience for all their customers, strengthening their reputation and commitment to social responsibility.
