Reimagining Accessibility Testing: The SimpleSense.xyz Launch

Overview

The accessibility testing market had a problem. Teams either relied on automated tools that missed critical issues, or hired consultants for expensive, time-consuming audits that often delivered results weeks too late to be useful. After years of working within large enterprises and seeing the same friction points repeatedly, I decided to build something different.

SimpleSense.xyz launched as an accessibility testing subscription service designed around a simple premise: what if accessibility testing worked the way development teams actually work? Instead of traditional consulting models built around meetings and email chains, we created a service that delivers expert accessibility testing through GitHub, integrating seamlessly into existing development workflows.

The challenge wasn't just technical—it was reimagining how accessibility expertise could be packaged and delivered to make it more accessible (ironically) to the teams who needed it most.

The Challenge

Working across multiple organizations, I'd seen the same accessibility testing challenges repeatedly:

• Traditional Consulting Friction: Lengthy contracts, scheduled meetings, and formal audit processes that didn't match the pace of modern development cycles
• Automated Tool Limitations: Scanners caught obvious issues but missed nuanced accessibility problems that require human judgment and assistive technology testing
• Knowledge Gaps: Teams wanted to learn accessibility, not just receive lists of issues to fix
• Delivery Method Mismatches: Accessibility reports delivered as PDFs or presentations that couldn't integrate with development workflows
• Cost Barriers: High-quality accessibility testing was either prohibitively expensive or required long-term commitments that many teams couldn't justify

The accessibility industry had optimized for comprehensive audits when most teams actually needed ongoing, iterative testing that could keep pace with continuous deployment cycles.

The Vision

The vision was to create accessibility testing that worked like a development tool rather than a traditional service. Key principles:

• Subscription Model: Unlimited requests for predictable monthly costs, removing the barrier of justifying individual audit expenses
• GitHub-Native Delivery: Results delivered through repositories, project boards, and issue tracking that developers already used
• Real Assistive Technology Testing: Human testers using actual screen readers and assistive technologies, not just automated scans
• Educational Documentation: Detailed remediation guidance that helped teams learn while fixing issues
• Flexible Request Types: From single component testing to full page audits, allowing teams to test at whatever granularity made sense for their workflow

The Product Strategy

Service Design Innovation

Instead of positioning SimpleSense as a traditional consulting firm, we designed it as a tool that happened to involve humans. The subscription model meant teams could submit requests without procurement approval, and the GitHub delivery meant results lived alongside their code.

Workflow Integration Approach

The breakthrough insight was treating accessibility testing like code review. Teams could submit requests, track progress through kanban boards, and receive results formatted as GitHub issues with clear acceptance criteria and remediation steps. This made accessibility testing feel like part of development rather than an external audit process.

Pricing and Business Model

We chose a flat subscription rate that covered unlimited requests processed one at a time. This pricing model encouraged teams to test frequently and iteratively rather than saving up for massive audits. The model also meant predictable revenue and forced us to optimize our testing processes for efficiency.

Expertise Delivery System

Rather than selling access to experts, we productized expertise. Every result included detailed remediation guidance, code examples, and WCAG references that teams could learn from. The goal was to make teams more self-sufficient over time, not more dependent on our services.

The Technical Implementation

GitHub Integration Architecture

I designed a delivery system built entirely on GitHub's native features:

• Project Repositories: Each client received a private repository with structured issue templates
• Kanban Project Boards: Visual workflow tracking with columns for Backlog, In Progress, Blocked, and Done
• Structured Documentation: Accessibility findings documented in markdown with embedded code examples and screenshots
• Version Control: All communications and results tracked with full history and attribution

Request Processing Workflow

The workflow emphasized speed and clarity:

1. Teams submit requests through GitHub issues using predefined templates
2. Requests enter a prioritized backlog visible to the client
3. Testing begins with clear status updates through GitHub project boards
4. Results delivered as detailed GitHub issues with actionable remediation steps
5. Teams can comment, ask questions, and track fixes through standard GitHub workflows

Quality and Consistency Framework

To ensure consistent expert-level results, I developed:

• Standardized Testing Protocols: Systematic approaches for different types of accessibility testing
• Documentation Templates: Consistent formatting for findings, remediation steps, and code examples
• Review Processes: Quality assurance for all deliverables before client delivery

The Launch Strategy

Target Market Validation

Before launching, I validated the concept with development teams from previous network connections. The consistent feedback was enthusiasm for GitHub-based delivery and subscription pricing that eliminated procurement barriers.

Positioning and Messaging

Rather than competing with traditional accessibility consultants, we positioned SimpleSense as developer tooling. The messaging focused on workflow integration and learning outcomes, not just compliance.

Service Operationalization

I built operational processes that could scale without losing quality:

• Request intake and prioritization systems
• Testing methodology documentation
• Client communication frameworks
• Quality assurance workflows

The Results

SimpleSense.xyz successfully launched with a service model that differentiated from traditional accessibility consulting:

• Workflow Integration Success: Teams adopted the GitHub-based approach quickly, with many noting how naturally it fit into their existing processes
• Educational Impact: Clients reported improved internal accessibility knowledge as teams learned from detailed remediation guidance
• Speed to Value: The 48-hour average for discrete requests meant teams could maintain development momentum while addressing accessibility issues
• Subscription Model Validation: The unlimited request model encouraged frequent testing and iterative improvement rather than delayed comprehensive audits

Market Response

The GitHub-based delivery model resonated particularly well with development teams who were tired of accessibility testing that felt disconnected from their workflows. The subscription pricing removed common barriers for teams wanting to improve accessibility but lacking budget for traditional consulting engagements.

The service also attracted attention from agencies and consultants looking for innovative approaches to accessibility testing delivery, validating the market need for workflow-integrated testing solutions.

Business Impact

SimpleSense proved that accessibility testing could be reimagined as a developer tool rather than a traditional service. The subscription model and GitHub delivery created a new category in the accessibility testing market, demonstrating that expert knowledge could be productized and delivered at scale.

The success validated key hypotheses about market demand for accessible (affordable and workflow-integrated) accessibility testing, creating a foundation for sustainable business growth while serving teams that were previously underserved by traditional consulting models.

Final Thoughts

SimpleSense.xyz demonstrated that innovation in accessibility often comes from changing delivery models, not just testing techniques. By designing the service around how development teams actually work rather than how consulting has traditionally been structured, we created something genuinely useful for teams struggling to integrate accessibility into fast-moving development cycles.

The launch proved that with thoughtful product strategy and workflow design, expert accessibility knowledge could be made more accessible to the teams who need it most. Sometimes the biggest impact comes from making good practices easier to adopt rather than making them more comprehensive.