Training · Lesson 4
How do I check my own work?
Use three simple checks anyone can do: put the mouse away, zoom in, and run an automatic checker. Then, when you can, listen with a screen reader. Automatic tools find only part of the problems, so the hands-on checks matter.
Video coming soon. The full lesson is written out below.
Check 1: Put the mouse away
Use only the keyboard.
- Press Tab to move forward and Shift + Tab to move back.
- Press Enter to follow links and press buttons. Use the Space bar for check boxes.
Ask yourself:
- Can you reach every link, button and form field?
- Can you always see where you are? There should be a clear outline around the item you are on.
- Do you ever get stuck and can't move on?
Check 2: Zoom in
Zoom your browser to 200%, then 400%. On most computers, hold Ctrl (or Command on a Mac) and press the plus key.
Ask yourself:
- Can you still read everything?
- Does text get cut off or overlap?
- At 400%, can you read the page without scrolling sideways?
Check 3: Run an automatic checker
- For documents: use the built-in checker. In Word and PowerPoint, choose Review, then Check Accessibility. In Adobe Acrobat, use Accessibility Check.
- For web pages: use a free checker such as the Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE) from Web Accessibility In Mind (WebAIM).
Automatic checkers catch things like missing picture descriptions and low contrast. They cannot tell if a description is any good, or if the page makes sense. That's why checks 1 and 2 matter.
Check 4: Listen with a screen reader
This is the most eye-opening check.
- On a Mac or iPhone: VoiceOver is built in.
- On Windows: NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) is free.
Close your eyes and try to do one task, like finding a phone number. If you get lost, a blind visitor will too.
Write down what you find
Keep a simple list: the page, the problem, and the fix. Fix the problems that block people first, like a button that can't be reached by keyboard.