AI, User Experience & the Future of Manual Digital Accessibility Testing
taught by: David Adi
Session Summary
AI is reshaping how organizations approach manual digital accessibility testing, but human expertise remains essential for accuracy, context, and inclusive user experience. This session explores how AI and manual testing can work together to dramatically improve quality, speed, and compliance. Attendees will learn practical strategies for integrating AI into accessibility workflows without compromising trust, ethics, or user‑centered design.
Description
As digital accessibility requirements expand across the U.S., Europe, and APAC, organizations face increasing pressure to deliver accessible experiences at scale. Manual testing remains the gold standard for accuracy, yet it is often slow, expensive, and difficult to operationalize. Meanwhile, AI‑powered tools are rapidly evolving—offering new opportunities to accelerate remediation, shift accessibility left, and support teams across development, QA, design, and compliance.
In this session, Allyable CEO David Adi—a global accessibility leader who has spoken before the UN, EU, and U.S. government—will break down how AI can enhance, not replace, manual accessibility testing. Drawing from his personal experience with hearing disability and his work building the Ally360 platform, David will demonstrate how AI‑assisted code validation, continuous scanning, and automated insights can empower teams to deliver more inclusive digital experiences. He will also address the risks of over‑reliance on automation, the importance of human judgment, and the future of hybrid testing models that combine AI efficiency with expert oversight.
Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to modernize their accessibility programs, reduce legal exposure, and improve user experience—while maintaining the integrity and rigor that manual testing provides.
Practical Skills
- Understand the evolving role of AI in digital accessibility testing, including where automation excels and where human expertise remains irreplaceable.
- Learn practical methods for integrating AI into manual testing workflows to improve speed, accuracy, and WCAG 2.2 compliance.
- Identify common pitfalls of automated accessibility tools and how to build a hybrid testing model that strengthens UX, reduces risk, and supports long‑term accessibility maturity.