Switch Control, iOS and Mac OS, and Switch Access for Android are two of the main switch software that is a metaphorical ramp to technology for individuals with limited manual dexterity. If technology is not compatible with switch platforms, it is rendered useless for these users.
The most basic switch technology is using your mobile devices’ screen as your switch. Beyond using the device’s screen, the most simple switch hardware is a one or two-button Bluetooth switch.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) focuses on the operability, where keyboard accessibility is specifically mentioned, but WCAG does not include success criteria specific to switch technology use. As switch technologies become more popular, conducting usability testing with switch users becomes more important; it exposes errors that keyboard testing may not. Testing for these platforms is typically left out of the accessibility testing conversation. This paper will address how Switch Control and Switch Access testing can improve access and inclusion for people with limited speech or limited manual dexterity who cannot use a keyboard.