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Is my WordPress site accessible? How to Perform Accessibility and Usability Tests

Gaby Gandica

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Meet the speaker: Gaby Gandica

  • From Táchira, Venezuela.
  • I have a dog named Loui Ramón (might make a cameo appearance with a bark or two).
  • Computer Science Engineer.
  • Career Path: Developer to Quality Assurance to UX Manager.
  • Industry Experience: Financial Services and Electoral Software.
  • Customer Base: Essentially, everyone.

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Agenda for today

  1. The universal need for accessible websites.
  2. Guidelines vs. Realities: When and why to go beyond.
  3. Usability testing: an overview.
  4. Planning your usability test.
  5. Conducting the test: best practices.
  6. Analyzing the results: what to look for.
  7. Building with the community.
  8. Resources.
  9. Q&A

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The universal need for accessible websites

The why behind universal accessibility:

  • 1 billion: a number hard to ignore.
  • UN CRPD: It's a human right.
  • The Web as lifeline: An essential utility.
  • For all ages and stages: Temporary to permanent.
  • Good for business: Accessibility expands reach.

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Guidelines vs. Realities: �When and why to go beyond

  • WCAG: a solid starting point.
  • Guidelines can fall short.
  • The gap: Where guidelines meet real life.
  • Anecdote: A real-world example.
  • Usability and accessibility testing: The missing piece.
  • Beyond guidelines: The power of human experience.

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Usability testing: an overview

  • What are usability tests?
  • Why usability tests matter.
    • You know too much.
    • Don’t guess.
  • It's easier than you think!

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Planning your usability test

  1. Define clear objectives: What do you hope to learn?
  2. Choose the testing method.
  3. Select participants and let them know you.
  4. Choose the right tools.
  5. Prepare the environment.
  6. Design scenarios.
  7. Determine metrics.
  8. Plan for feedback.

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Conducting the test: best practices

  • Follow a script and stay neutral.
  • Reassure and clarify roles.
  • Anticipate and handle technical issues.
  • Encourage expressive feedback.
  • Active note-taking – when possible, record the test.
  • Capture diverse data.
  • Flexibility is Key – every participant is unique.
  • Wrap up with care.

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Analyzing the results: what to look for.

  • Accessibility insights.
  • Patterns over single observations.
  • Severity levels.
  • Objective vs. subjective feedback.
  • Verbal and non-verbal cues.
  • Tasks completed successfully.
  • Time on task.
  • Report it.

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Inclusive collaboration:�Building with the community

When we speak of usability tests, especially those focused on accessibility, we are talking about a profound partnership with people with disabilities.

Here's the impact of this collaboration:

  • Humanizing tech.
  • Learning and growth.
  • Building an inclusive society.

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Final thoughts

  • One test is better than no tests at all.
  • Participate in others' usability tests.
  • It’s a journey, not a destination.

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Resources

  • Don't Make Me Think – book by Steve Krug.
  • System Usability Scale (SUS) - a reliable tool for measuring usability.
  • W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) - W3C's initiative to improve web accessibility. Link: https://www.w3.org/WAI/
  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) - Comprehensive web accessibility guidelines. Link: https://www.swiftsalary.com/get-paid-testing-websites-and-apps/
  • Nielsen Norman Group - Renowned UX research group with articles and reports on usability and accessibility. Link: https://www.nngroup.com/
  • WebAIM - Provides web accessibility solutions, tools, and training. Link: https://webaim.org/

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You can always contact me

Gaby Gandica

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/magabrielag

Email: magabrielag@me.com