10 of the Top Digital Accessibility Testing Companies
There’s More than One Way to Approach Accessibility Testing
With hundreds of millions of individuals living with a physical or cognitive impairment, it’s critical to ensure your web and mobile products are accessible to everyone. Accessibility practices create a better user experience and brand reputation, drive increased traffic, and improve overall company revenue. Plus, it’s just the right thing to do.
We looked at digital accessibility companies across the globe and the various ways they are addressing accessibility. Some specialize in providing software tools while others specialize in professional services. Regardless, it takes a blended approach to achieve true accessibility and there are advantages and disadvantages between types of solutions and the various accessibility providers out there.
While there is no particular order to this list, we are confident that QualityLogic’s accessibility services and advisory team help clients overachieve by getting the right people, processes, and technologies in place to be successful.
First, let’s look at the criteria to consider when selecting the right digital accessibility partner (or partners). The criteria include but is not limited to the following:
- Inclusion of team members with physical or cognitive impairments
- Location of the software testing team
- Digital accessibility experience
- Flexibility in service and response times
- Service, platform, or both
- Proficiency with assistive technology
10 Top Digital Accessibility Companies
QualityLogic
Location: Boise, Idaho
Years in Business: 36
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services, Software Evaluation and Selection (Technology-Agnostic).
QualityLogic provides onshore digital accessibility services provided by a full-service team located in the United States. Rather than relying on a single generalist, your team gains immediate access to a range of deeply experienced accessibility practitioners to help with all aspects of the software development lifecycle including design, development, and testing. Each team includes individuals with physical or cognitive impairments, so you gain invaluable firsthand feedback from real users of assistive technology and those who benefit most from accessible design.
Level Access
Location: Vienna, Virginia
Years in Business: 25
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services, Accessibility Software.
The Level Access industry-leading software, consulting, and training solutions provide the full 360-degree coverage needed to ensure accessible and compliant websites, mobile apps, software, and other technology while protecting against legal risk.
Deque
Location: Herndon, Virginia
Years in Business: 23
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services, Accessibility Software.
Deque accessibility services provide software and tools to ensure accessibility compliance across the web. Deque experts offer web accessibility audits, remediation, and training.
TPGi
Location: Clearwater, Florida
Years in Business: 20
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services, Accessibility Software.
TPGi is an accessibility solutions provider that supports all phases of accessibility through best-in-class management software and professional services. We partner with the best-known brands in the world to achieve end-to-end accessibility for their digital assets.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility
Location: Toronto, Canada
Years in Business: 14
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services, Accessibility Software.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility is a comprehensive digital accessibility-as-a-service platform. We help organizations create inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences through digital accessibility testing, evaluation, and remediation.
Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA)
Location: East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Years in Business: 19
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services, Accessibility Software.
The Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA) helps proactive organizations achieve, maintain, and prove website compliance in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is a comprehensive federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as per the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. A/AA
Knowbility
Location: Austin, TX
Years in Business: 23
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services.
Knowbility is a nonprofit organization with the mission of creating an inclusive digital world for people with disabilities. Through consulting and training, this critical work improves technology access for millions of youths and adults with disabilities all over the world.
World Institute on Disability
Location: Berkeley, CA
Years in Business: 39
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services.
The World Institute on Disability (WID) is an international nonprofit center on public policy that focuses on researching disability issues and overcoming barriers to independent living for people with disabilities.
Evinced
Location: New York, NY
Years in Business: 10
Solution Type: Accessibility Software.
Evinced is an accessibility software company specializing in providing automation to enterprise developers. The company offers a complete portfolio of products to enable enterprise developers to weave accessibility into their iOS and Android mobile app development process.
Fable
Location: Toronto, Canada
Years in Business: 4
Solution Type: Digital Accessibility Services, Accessibility Software.
Fable is an accessibility testing company, powered by people with disabilities.
Fable enables you to connect to people with disabilities remotely and on-demand to accelerate your user research, design, and development.
Digital Accessibility: Above and Beyond
We believe digital accessibility testing companies should go beyond simple compliance. To be thoroughly accessible, the best companies not only meet WCAG standards but exceed them. WCAG is great for meeting a common standard of accessibility, but it is still possible to build a technically compliant product or website that’s difficult to use with assistive technology.
We should also highlight the risk of relying on overlay tools from companies like accessiBe for digital accessibility user experience. These tools often do little to improve the accessibility of websites or applications and can, in some cases, actually create worse experiences for assistive technology users. True accessibility is about including individuals with physical or cognitive impairments in the design, development, and testing process throughout, and by focusing on real-user experiences, not just meeting guidelines.
We also believe that digital accessibility should combine automated and manual testing including testers who are using assistive technology in their daily lives. It’s the only way to truly understand their requirements.
The best companies should also apply the most commonly used assistive technology including JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, Google TalkBack, ZoomText, MAGic, Microsoft Narrator, and other assistive technologies used based on your digital content. That way everyone’s needs are met in the most comprehensive way possible.
Examples of Accessibility in Software
Accessibility in software design ensures applications and websites can be effectively used by individuals with disabilities or those who rely on assistive technologies. A key example of software accessibility is implementing keyboard navigation, which enables users to access all functionalities using keyboard inputs rather than relying solely on a mouse. This is essential for users with limited dexterity or those unable to use a mouse.
Another critical example is providing alternative text, or “alt text,” for images. Alt text allows screen readers to convey the content of images to visually impaired users, making non-visible information accessible. Additionally, maintaining a sufficient color contrast ratio between elements, like text and background colors, supports those with visual impairments in distinguishing content clearly.
Other accessibility features include using clear and descriptive page titles, structuring headings in a logical order for smoother screen reader navigation, and creating accessible hyperlinks with meaningful labels. These features collectively foster a more inclusive experience, allowing all users to engage fully with software content and functionality.
User Feedback Drives the Prioritization of Accessibility Issues
User feedback is a powerful tool in prioritizing accessibility improvements. Listening to real users’ experiences helps identify which issues most impact their ability to navigate and use a product effectively. This understanding allows for strategic prioritization, addressing critical issues first to make immediate strides in accessibility. By focusing on the issues that users find most challenging, we ensure meaningful improvements that align with the core needs of those who rely on accessible design.
Established Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Digital Products
Accessibility standards and guidelines for digital products provide crucial criteria to ensure ease of use and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities. Developed by organizations like the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), these standards aim to enhance the digital experience for all users.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a widely respected framework by W3C, offers a structured approach to assessing digital accessibility. Covering aspects such as design, functionality, and content, WCAG addresses potential barriers by specifying criteria and techniques to enhance accessibility. These guidelines are built around four core principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Under each principle, targeted guidelines and success criteria guide improvements. For example, the perceivable principle ensures content is accessible through multiple senses, emphasizing features like alternative text for non-text content, adequate color contrast, and simplified information.
WCAG further categorizes accessibility into three conformance levels: A, AA, and AAA. Level A represents minimum compliance, while AA provides broader accessibility, and AAA denotes the highest level of conformance. These standards, especially WCAG, form a foundation for accessibility testing, allowing organizations to benchmark digital products against inclusive design standards. Collaborations with partners, such as QASource, can provide holistic support to address the complexities of accessibility testing in alignment with these standards, fostering more inclusive digital experiences.
The QualityLogic Approach to Digital Accessibility
QualityLogic is committed to integrating accessibility practices from end to end, design to launch. We know regional and global accessibility standards, including WCAG, ADA, Section 508, AODA, and others, and we can help you meet and exceed them with accessibility services and consulting. We can help you succeed through design, testing, remediation, and consulting support which engages individuals with physical or cognitive impairments and blends the best of automated and manual approaches.
Making your website or mobile app accessible to all requires more than running tests with a screen reader, with mic and sound turned off, or without a mouse. Your site and app need to work across a broad range of platforms with all popular assistive technologies and consider the overall user experience.
If you’d like to learn more about how to include digital accessibility in your company’s digital properties, let’s set up some time for a free consultation.
Author: Gary James
