Web for All: Enhancing Quality Intelligence with Automated Accessibility Testing using Playwright and axe-core

Accessibility (A11Y) isn't just a feature; it should be a foundation of software quality. Yet in many teams, A11Y remains an afterthought - tested manually (if at all) and too late in the process to meaningfully influence design, development, or user experience. This paper explores how automated A11Y testing can boost Quality Intelligence by embedding inclusive design checks directly into the development and testing workflow.

Using the Posit website as a real-world example, I demonstrate how Playwright and axe-core can be combined to automate meaningful accessibility checks, including keyboard navigation, conditional field visibility ( e.g., country-dependent dropdowns), and WCAG compliance scans. The tests produce clear, actionable reports and annotated screenshots, making A11Y issues visible, traceable, and fixable earlier in the lifecycle.

I outline how the tests were structured to reflect realistic user interactions, what technical challenges arose during implementation, and how GitHub Actions can be configured to run tests on a scheduled basis - ensuring continuous feedback.

Audience will leave with a practical framework for integrating accessibility into their automation strategy using free, open-source tools - and a renewed understanding of A11Y not as an afterthought, but as a measurable, testable, and essential part of modern software quality.

Paper | Presentation

Rodrigo Silva Ferreira

Rodrigo Silva Ferreira is a QA Engineer at Posit, where he contributes to the quality and usability of open-source tools that empower data scientists working in R and Python. He focuses on both manual and automated testing strategies to ensure reliability, performance, and an excellent user experience.

Rodrigo holds a BSc. in Chemistry with minors in Applied Math and Arabic from NYU Abu Dhabi and an MSc. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. Multilingual and globally minded, he enjoys working at the intersection of data, science, and technology - especially when it means building tools that help people better understand and navigate the world through its increasingly complex data.