Accessibility Stress Test How to Review Your App Like a Screen-Reader User.pdf

Accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about inclusion. Millions of users rely on screen readers to access websites and apps. Reviewing your app through their perspective helps you uncover hidden usability barriers. By performing an accessibility stress test, you’ll identify real-world challenges that affect users who depend on assistive technology. Visit us: www.techosquare.com

1. ACCESSIBILITY STRESS TEST:
HOW TO REVIEW YOUR APP
LIKE A SCREEN-READER USER?
WWW.TECHOSQUARE.COM
Build digital experiences that everyone can
navigate, see, and trust.

2. Accessibility isn’t just about compliance—
it’s about inclusion. Millions of users rely on
screen readers to access websites and apps.
Reviewing your app through their
perspective helps you uncover hidden
usability barriers. By performing an
accessibility stress test, you’ll identify real-
world challenges that affect users who
depend on assistive technology.
INTRODUCTION

3. WHY SCREEN-READER
TESTING MATTERS?
Over 2.2 billion people worldwide live with
visual impairments.
Screen readers convert digital text into
speech, helping them browse content
independently.
Testing ensures equal access, improves user
satisfaction, and enhances SEO and usability
for all users.
It’s not just ethical—it’s good
business.

4. Turn off your screen or close your eyes. Use
screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver
to explore your app. Can you still understand
what’s happening? If you feel lost, it’s time to
improve labeling, structure, and flow.
Listen closely—are the menus, buttons, and page
structures making sense through voice?
If you can’t identify where you are or what’s
happening, your users won’t either.
This exercise exposes unclear design elements,
missing context, and poor content hierarchy. UNPLUG
THE
VISUALS

5. Reach Every Clickable Element Ensure every button, link, and form field is
accessible through keyboard navigation alone.KEYBOARD-
ONLY
NAVIGATION Keep Focus Indicators Visible
Users should always know which element is
active; visible focus outlines are essential.Trigger Actions Correctly
Pressing “Enter” or “Space” should perform
expected actions without confusion or delay.Avoid Keyboard Traps
No user should get stuck on a component.
Smooth tabbing ensures effortless movement
across the interface.

6. LABEL EVERYTHING CLEARLY
Every interactive element should describe its purpose — not its position.
Replace vague names like “Button 1” or “Image 3” with clear labels like “Add to Cart” or
“Profile Picture.”
Use Alt text and ARIA labels for images, icons, and dynamic components.
When labels are precise, screen readers can guide users confidently through the journey.
This clarity improves not only accessibility but also usability for all audiences.

7. A screen reader follows your app’s underlying code structure, not the
visual layout.
Ensure content reads in a logical order — from headings to text to
buttons.
Use proper heading levels (H1 > H2 > H3) and avoid skipping hierarchy.
When pop-ups or modals appear, focus should shift automatically to
them and return correctly when closed.
Poor focus handling can disorient users and make navigation
frustrating.
CHECK
READING
ORDER &
FOCUS

8. Don’t just browse — complete key tasks using a screen
reader.
Try actions like signing up, filling forms, or checking out.
Listen for missing instructions, repeated messages, or
incomplete feedback after actions.
SIMULATE REAL-WORLD
TASKS
Can I tell when an error occurs?
Does the screen reader announce success or
failure?
Is the process intuitive from start to finish?
Real-world simulations reveal the most critical
accessibility barriers that can go unnoticed in
basic checks.
Ask yourself:

9. CONCLUSION
Accessibility testing is about creating an equal
experience for every user — regardless of their
abilities.
When you review your app like a screen-reader user,
you build empathy into your design process.
Every fix, from adding descriptive labels to improving
focus order, moves your app closer to true inclusivity.
Remember: Accessibility isn’t a one-time task; it’s a
continuous promise to make technology open to all.

10. CREATING ACCESSIBLE APPS ISN’T JUST A TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT — IT’S A HUMAN ONE.
EVERY STEP TOWARD ACCESSIBILITY BRINGS US CLOSER TO A DIGITAL WORLD WHERE
EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE FREELY AND CONFIDENTLY.
THANK YOU
CONTACT US: WWW.TECHOSQUARE.COM