This is a problem/challenge that continues to plague us in a big way and I am afraid that the only way to make a dent in the number of times that companies do this may probably come down to us persisting in the raising of our voices about the whole thing.
What am I referring to today? It is this!
Companies continue to use automated tools instead or in addition to the use of human testers when dealing with the development or maintenance of their websites. And even when they do use human testers; too often it is sighted users and not testers with a disability.
Whatever happened to the famous concept of “walk a mile in my shoes?” Whatever happened to the proven technique that the human touch reaches far beyond the automated tool’s ability to navigate in the corners whenever tight spots are encountered?
It is very hard to explain why companies continue to resist using users with disabilities whenever it comes to testing for usability, accessibility, and navigability. Some of these companies have even dared to say that it would cost too much to hire users with disabilities whenever they need or require to work on accessibility. However the truth and reality is this!
At the end of the day it costs much more to hire users with disabilities because the use of automated tools has failed to zero in on glaring glitches that could have been found by human testers to start with. The use of automated tools definitely has its place in the scheme of things but the use of human testers with disabilities has an even more important part to play.
It is time for companies to realize this and to start taking action. Too much money is being spent on correcting errors that can be avoided if human testers with disabilities are employed to carry out said types of testing.
It is time to stop using the excuse of being too costly or not having the budget to hire the right type of users. It is time to correct this situation ad to realize that cost can be avoided by using more human testers with disabilities.
Just my two cents for today.