Web Accessibility Testing: A Practical 4-Step Guide (2025 Regulations)

If you're reading this guide, you're probably trying to figure out how to make your website more inclusive for everyone, including those with disabilities.

Web accessibility isn't just a good practice: it's a way to ensure no one is excluded from your online content. And with new Web Accessibility regulations coming soon, it's also a legal issue that shouldn't be underestimated. In this guide, I'll explain in simple and straightforward terms the main legislation governing all of this, what exactly it requires, and then provide a practical outline of the checks you can implement yourself as a website owner or user. We won't delve into super-complex technical details—the idea is to give you the basic tools to get started.

Why web accessibility really matters

Imagine navigating a website blindfolded, or without the ability to use a mouse: for many people with visual, motor, or cognitive disabilities, this is exactly what happens. Making a website accessible eliminates these barriers, and the benefits are for everyone—from improved SEO to a broader audience.

Web Accessibility Regulations: What They Say and Why They Matter

Let's start with the heart of the matter: the laws that require websites to be accessible. In Europe, including Italy, the key legislation is EU Directive 2019/882, better known as the European Accessibility Act (EAA). This law comes into force on June 28, 2025, and aims to ensure that digital products and services, including websites and mobile apps, are accessible to all, especially people with disabilities. It is not limited to public administrations; it also involves private companies offering services such as e-commerce, online banking, or streaming platforms. The goal is to create a single European market where no one is discriminated against on the grounds of disability, promoting inclusion and reducing barriers.

In Italy, this directive complements existing regulations, such as Law 4/2004 (the so-called Stanca Law ), which has been updated to align with European regulations. The Agency for Digital Italy (AgID) has published specific guidelines for consultation to help public administrations and businesses comply. Starting June 28, 2025, if your website is inaccessible, you could face penalties. These vary from country to country but can be severe—think fines or forced compliance requirements.

But what exactly does this regulation require? It is mainly based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ( WCAG ), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium ( W3C ). WCAG is an international standard that defines the criteria for making web content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust —in jargon, the POUR principles.

The EAA requires conformance to at least Level AA of WCAG 2.1 or higher (and starting in 2025, version 2.2 will also be considered). You don't have to be an expert to get started: the important thing is to test and fix the most common issues.

If you offer digital services, you will also need to provide clear information about your site's accessibility, such as a compliance statement, and mechanisms for reporting issues.

Accessibility testing tools

Now that you have an idea of the regulations and requirements, let's move on to the practical part.

You don't need to be a programmer to check a website's accessibility; there are free tools that can perform these checks. My advice is to combine these automated tests with manual checks, possibly involving people with disabilities who can provide subjective feedback related to their condition.

Don't worry about time: for most sites, a full audit takes 30 to 60 minutes at most. If your site is simple (like a blog or a showcase site), 30 minutes will probably be enough; if you have an e-commerce site or something more complex, plan on an hour. The important thing is to get started—even a partial audit is better than no audit at all.

We have several free tools available, from those designed for blogs to professional ones aimed at companies that can also offer paid consulting services.

I will limit myself to indicating the first ones, the most immediate ones that do not require registration or software installation.

Microsoft Accessibility Insights is a suite of free tools that addresses mostly visual accessibility issues.

WAVE , an online tool that analyzes a web page in real time, highlighting WCAG errors and warnings.

Google Lighthouse : Integrated into Chrome's DevTools (or available as an extension), it performs automatic accessibility, performance, and SEO audits based on WCAG.

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access): A free screen reader for Windows, useful for manual testing to simulate the experience of blind users. It's not an automatic scanner, but it's essential for real-world testing.

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WCAG Principles (POUR):

• Perceptible

• Operable

• Understandable

• Robust

💡 Practical tips

• Use the Tab key to navigate without a mouse

• Check the color contrast

• Add alt text to images

• Include subtitles in videos

• Test the zoom at 200%

• Avoid autoplay and invasive animations

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Practical checklist for verifying your website

Now we come to the main question. What should I check to know if my website is accessible? What criteria must it meet?

Here's a simple checklist to follow:

1. Open the headings and check the page structure, verifying that the HTML code is well structured and free of errors.

2. Test keyboard navigation: put the mouse away and use the Tab key to move and Enter to click buttons. Make sure the selected item is visible (with a border or color) and that the order makes sense, with no " traps " that could get you stuck.

3. Check the site for visually impaired users, ensuring color contrast and use of color are correct.

4. For each piece of media on your site, add alternative text (alt text) that describes what it represents. For video and audio, include subtitles or transcripts. Avoid excessive autoplay, and make sure links are descriptive, not just " click here ."

5. Test zooming and resizing: Zoom in on the page to 200% or more in your browser. The content should fit without overlapping or requiring annoying horizontal scrolling—everything should remain readable and usable.

6. Manage dynamic elements and animations: If there are sliders, carousels, or moving content, make sure they can be paused. No rapid flashing, which could cause problems for those with epilepsy.

By following the outline and using the indicated tools, you will cover the basic requirements of the regulation and identify the most common problems.

Remember, accessibility is an ongoing process: test regularly and, if possible, involve users with disabilities for empirical feedback. If your site is complex and professional, consider consulting an expert for a thorough review and standards compliance.

This way, you not only avoid legal risks, but you also contribute to a more equitable web for everyone. Good luck!

Have you already checked your site's accessibility? Share your experience in the comments or contact us for support!