Accessibility
Assistive Technology Testing
A practical UX and accessibility method for validating real-world usability with assistive technologies across key journeys.
How to run assistive technology testing to identify compatibility and interaction barriers beyond baseline compliance.
Quick take
If your product doesn’t work with assistive tech, it doesn’t work for a lot of people.
Related Services
What it is
Assistive technology testing is a UX and serviceAccessibilityFind accessibility issues early, improve usability, and build products that are more inclusive, usable, and compliant.Open service method used to evaluate how well a product works with tools that people rely on to interact with digital experiences.
These tools include glossaryScreen ReaderA screen reader is software that reads digital content aloud for users who cannot see the screen.Open glossary term, voice control software, screen magnifiers, switch devices, and other serviceAccessibilityFind accessibility issues early, improve usability, and build products that are more inclusive, usable, and compliant.Open service technologies.
The method involves testing real glossaryUser JourneyThe full path a user takes to complete a task, including every step, decision, and interaction along the way.Open glossary term using these tools to understand how the experience actually works in practice.
It goes beyond compliance to focus on real glossaryUsabilityUsability is how easy and efficient it is for users to complete tasks within a product. It focuses on clarity, simplicity, and reducing effort so users can achieve their goals without confusion or friction.Open glossary term.
The goal is to ensure the product works effectively for people with different needs, abilities, and ways of interacting.
Assistive technology testing shows whether accessibility holds up in real conditions, not just in audits.
When to use it
Use this method when serviceAccessibilityFind accessibility issues early, improve usability, and build products that are more inclusive, usable, and compliant.Open service needs to work in reality, not just on paper.
It is most useful when:
It is less useful when:
Assistive technology testing is often used alongside accessibility audits and WCAG reviews.
Key takeaway
Use this method when the question is whether people can actually use the product with their real tools.
How to run it
Set up properly.
Before you start, be clear on which assistive technologies to test, the key glossaryPain PointA specific problem or frustration users experience when trying to complete a task.Open glossary term to evaluate, and expected glossaryBehaviourBehaviour refers to how users interact with a system, including actions, patterns, and responses.Open glossary term.
Use real tools and realistic scenarios.
Run the method.
Assistive technology testing is hands-on and scenario-based.
Use assistive technologies to navigate the product. Attempt to complete key tasks. Observe how content and glossaryInteractionInteraction refers to any action a user takes within a product and how the system responds. It includes clicks, taps, gestures, and inputs that drive the user experience.Open glossary term behave. Test across different tools and devices. Note issues in glossaryUsabilityUsability is how easy and efficient it is for users to complete tasks within a product. It focuses on clarity, simplicity, and reducing effort so users can achieve their goals without confusion or friction.Open glossary term and interaction.
Focus on real use, not just technical checks.
Capture and make sense of it.
The value comes from real-world glossaryUsabilityUsability is how easy and efficient it is for users to complete tasks within a product. It focuses on clarity, simplicity, and reducing effort so users can achieve their goals without confusion or friction.Open glossary term glossaryInsightAn insight is a meaningful understanding that explains why something is happening and what it means.Open glossary term.
After testing: identify barriers and glossaryUsabilityUsability is how easy and efficient it is for users to complete tasks within a product. It focuses on clarity, simplicity, and reducing effort so users can achieve their goals without confusion or friction.Open glossary term issues, highlight inconsistencies across tools, prioritise fixes based on impact, and validate improvements.
Use this to improve serviceAccessibilityFind accessibility issues early, improve usability, and build products that are more inclusive, usable, and compliant.Open service in practice.
What to look for
Focus on:
Where it goes wrong
Most issues come from:
If it only works in theory, it doesn’t work.
What you get from it
Done properly, this method gives you:
Key takeaway
It helps ensure your product works for everyone.
Get in touch
If this sounds like something you need, we can test your product with assistive technologies and fix the issues that impact real users.
No guesswork. No assumptions. Just serviceAccessibilityFind accessibility issues early, improve usability, and build products that are more inclusive, usable, and compliant.Open service that actually works.
FAQ
Common questions
A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this method.
What is assistive technology testing in UX?
It is a method for testing how a product works with tools like glossaryScreen ReaderA screen reader is software that reads digital content aloud for users who cannot see the screen.Open glossary term and voice control.
When should you use assistive technology testing?
During guideAccessibility AuditEvaluating interfaces against accessibility standards to identify barriers, prioritise fixes, and improve inclusive usability.Open guide and before glossaryReleaseA release is the point at which a product or feature is made available to users. It marks the transition from development to real-world use and often involves deployment, communication, and monitoring.Open glossary term.
What tools should you test with?
glossaryScreen ReaderA screen reader is software that reads digital content aloud for users who cannot see the screen.Open glossary term, voice control, magnifiers, and other assistive tech.
Is it the same as a WCAG review?
No. It focuses on real glossaryUsabilityUsability is how easy and efficient it is for users to complete tasks within a product. It focuses on clarity, simplicity, and reducing effort so users can achieve their goals without confusion or friction.Open glossary term, not just compliance.
Does assistive technology testing improve UX?
Yes. It ensures your product works in real-world conditions for all users.