How to check if a website works with your assistive technology

The frustration of inaccessible websites

You've found a website you need to use - maybe it's a government service, an online shop, or a tool for work. You start navigating and within seconds you hit a wall. Buttons that don't respond to keyboard presses. Images with no descriptions. Menus that trap your focus. Content that disappears at higher zoom levels.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Studies consistently show that the majority of websites fail basic accessibility checks. But until recently, the only way to know was to try the site yourself and hope for the best.

Check before you commit

LumiLens lets you scan any website before you invest time in it. Enter the URL, wait about 60 seconds, and get a report that tells you exactly what to expect.

Here's what to look for based on how you browse:

If you use a screen reader

The Screen Reader Guidance section of your report will tell you:

• -Whether the page has proper heading structure (so you can jump between sections)
• -Whether images have meaningful descriptions
• -Whether forms are labelled so your screen reader announces what each field is for
• -Whether dynamic content (like menus and notifications) is announced properly
• -Specific tips for your screen reader (NVDA, VoiceOver, JAWS, or TalkBack)

What to look for in the score: Sites scoring below 70 almost always have screen reader barriers. Above 90, you'll usually have a workable experience, though some manual checking is always worthwhile.

If you navigate by keyboard

The Keyboard Navigation section covers:

• -Focus indicators - can you see where you are? Some sites remove the visible outline when you Tab, leaving you navigating blind
• -Tab order - does Tab move through the page in a logical sequence, or does it jump around randomly?
• -Focus traps - are there sections (like modal dialogs or embedded content) where you might get stuck?
• -Skip links - can you skip past the navigation to get to the main content?
• -Interactive elements - do all buttons, links, and form controls respond to Enter and Space?

Red flags: If the report mentions focus traps or missing focus indicators, you'll likely have a frustrating experience.

If you use voice control

The Voice Control Tips section tells you:

• -Whether buttons and links have visible text that matches their accessible name (so "Click submit" actually works)
• -Whether form fields have proper labels (so you can say "Click email" to focus the email field)
• -Whether there are unlabelled interactive elements that voice commands can't target

The key issue: If a button shows an icon but has no text label, your voice control software has no name to target. LumiLens flags these specifically.

If you use magnification

The Cognitive and Vision section includes:

• -Whether the site reflows properly at 200% and 400% zoom
• -Whether horizontal scrolling is required (it shouldn't be)
• -Whether text remains readable and controls remain usable when enlarged
• -Contrast ratios - whether text is distinguishable from its background

What the score means for you

As a general rule:

• -90+: The site is likely to work well with your assistive technology
• -70-89: Usable, but expect some friction. Check the specific sections relevant to your AT
• -Below 70: Expect significant barriers. Read the report carefully to decide if it's worth your time

Save sites you check regularly

If there are websites you use often, save them in LumiLens. You can:

• -See their latest score at a glance
• -Re-scan with one click
• -Set up monitoring to get notified when accessibility changes

This is especially useful for services you depend on - if a site update breaks accessibility, you'll know about it.

Share reports with site owners

Every LumiLens report has a shareable URL. If you find a website that's inaccessible, sending the report to the site's contact or support team gives them a clear starting point for fixes. It's more effective than saying "your site doesn't work" - you're showing them exactly what's broken.

Try it now

Head to the LumiLens homepage and enter any URL. No account needed for your first 3 reports. It takes about 60 seconds and you'll know exactly what you're dealing with.