In today's fast-paced development world, building secure and accessible applications is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. Organizations are increasingly adopting shift-left DevSecOps practices and integrating accessibility testing in software testing to ensure that their products are both secure and inclusive from the earliest stages of development.
Accessibility testing ensures that applications are usable by people with disabilities, including those who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition tools, and alternative input devices. By performing accessibility testing, developers make sure their software complies with accessibility standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), and Section 508.
Legal Compliance: Failing to meet accessibility requirements can lead to lawsuits and regulatory penalties.
Wider Reach: Accessible websites and apps cater to a larger user base, including over a billion people globally with some form of disability.
Better Usability for All: Accessibility features like better contrast, alt text, and keyboard navigation improve the experience for all users.
With mobile usage on the rise, ensuring accessibility on mobile platforms is just as critical. Accessibility testing for mobile apps focuses on:
VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android) support
Proper contrast and scalable fonts
Logical navigation and touch target sizes
Screen reader compatibility
Mobile app developers must regularly test across various devices and operating systems to ensure a consistent experience for all users.
There are several powerful tools and services available for online accessibility testing. These can be integrated into development pipelines or used for manual audits.
Axe by Deque Systems – Browser extension and automated testing tool
WAVE by WebAIM – Visual feedback on accessibility issues
Lighthouse by Google – Built-in Chrome DevTools audit for performance and accessibility
Accessibility Insights – Open-source tool from Microsoft
For deeper compliance audits and consulting, many accessibility testing companies offer end-to-end services. Leading providers include:
Deque Systems
Level Access
TPGi (The Paciello Group)
Siteimprove
These accessibility testing services help organizations assess their current accessibility status and implement sustainable improvements.
Shift-left DevSecOps refers to incorporating security practices early in the software development lifecycle, instead of leaving them as an afterthought. In the same way accessibility is integrated early with automated testing tools, security is now embedded into development workflows through shift-left security DevSecOps.
Faster Remediation: Bugs and vulnerabilities are cheaper and easier to fix when discovered early.
Reduced Risk: Continuous scanning and testing lower the chances of security breaches.
Enhanced Collaboration: Developers, testers, and security professionals work together from the beginning.
Use static code analysis tools to detect vulnerabilities during development.
Automate security testing within CI/CD pipelines.
Conduct regular code reviews and threat modeling.
Provide secure coding training to developers.
The best practice is to combine shift-left testing with both security and accessibility testing. Here’s how:
Automate accessibility and security scans in your CI/CD pipeline.
Include accessibility and security acceptance criteria in user stories.
Empower developers with the right tools and training.
By embracing both shift-left DevSecOps and accessibility testing, organizations can deliver high-quality, secure, and inclusive digital experiences. Whether you're testing a web application or a mobile app, integrating accessibility and security from the start is key to long-term success.
From selecting the right accessibility testing software to partnering with accessibility testing companies, and implementing shift-left software testing, forward-thinking teams are leading the way toward a better, safer digital world.