To put it simply, no. For all of the advantages of running regularly scheduled automated accessibility tests, any healthy website should also include manual testing in its plans. There are a number of areas where an actual human can determine accessibility issues that an automated tool may not recognize.
Areas, where manual accessibility testing is preferable, include ensuring that all facets of a page can be accessed with keyboard-only navigation, detecting color contrast issues that make pages difficult for some users to read, checking HTML5 and WAI-ARIA elements for coding best practices, and testing compatibility with leading screen readers.
The bottom line is that testing website accessibility regularly and thoroughly is a must in today’s online environment. With the advent of WCAG 2.1 and other accessibility regulations and an ever-growing number of seniors relying on the internet, offering a website experience with equal access for all users is more important than ever.
Whether your organization is new to the world of accessible content or looking to improve on your current approach, a well-considered combination of manual and automated accessibility testing with a tool like Siteimprove Content & Accessibility will go a long way toward keeping your website usable for everyone who needs it.