Accessibility Testing In Web Browsers

About This Document

This document provides advice on configuring popular Web browsers in order to ensure your Web site is widely accessible. The document covers Internet Explorer 7.0, Firefox 3 and Opera 9.6 running on Microsoft Windows.

Disabling JavaScript

Some browsers do not support JavaScript. Some organisations / individuals will disable JavaScript due to security concerns.

Browser	Technique
Internet Explorer	Select Tools menu and Internet Options option. Select the Security tab, choose the Internet icon choose the Custom level option. Scroll to the Scripting option and choose the Disable (or Prompt) option.
Firefox	Select Tools menu and Options option. Open Content, unselect the Enable Javascript option and select OK.
Opera	Select File menu and choose Preferences option. Choose the Multimedia option, disable JavaScript option and select OK.

 

Resizing Text

Some individuals will need to resize the display in order to read the information provided.

Browser	Technique
Internet Explorer	Select View menu and choose Text Size option.
Firefox	Select View menu and choose the Zoom option. Choose the option to Zoom in. Repeat using Zoom out
Opera	Select View menu and choose Zoom option. Then zoom by a factor or, say, 50% and 150%.

 

Disabling Images

Some people cannot see images and some may disable images for performance or privacy reasons.

Browser	Technique
Internet Explorer	Select Tools menu and Internet Options option. Uncheck the Show pictures automatically option.
Firefox	Select View menu and Options option. Open the Content tab, uncheck the Load images automatically tab and select OK.
Opera	Select File menu and choose Preferences option. Choose Multimedia option, select the Show images pull-down menu and choose the Show no images option and select OK.

 

Disabling Popup Windows

Some browsers and assistive technologies may not support pop-up windows. Individuals may disable pop-up windows due to their misuse by some commercial sites.

Browser	Technique
Internet Explorer	Select the Tools tab and Pop-Up Blocker option. Ensure that the Pop-Up Blocker option is selected.
Firefox	Select Tools menu and Options option. Select the Content tab and click on the Block pop-up windows option.
Opera	Select File menu and choose Preferences option. Choose Windows option in the Pop-ups pull-down menu and choose the Refuse Pop-ups option and select OK.

 

Systematic Testing

You should use the procedures in a systematic way: for example as part of a formal testing procedure in which specific tasks are carried out.

Use of Bookmarklets And FireFox Extensions

Bookmarklets are browser extension may extend the functionality of a browser. Many accessibility bookmarklets are available (known as Firefox Extensions for the Firefox browser). It is suggested that such tools are used in accessibility testing. See Interfaces To Web Testing Tools at <http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue34/web-focus/>