Web Accessibility Testing Tools [closed]

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I'm wondering if any of you know of any good free (nearly free) applications that are used for web accessibility testing.

So far, I have found;

1. WAT - Web Accessibility Toolbar
2. http://achecker.ca/checker/index.php
3. http://fae.cita.uiuc.edu/
4. Fire Eyes

Thanks!

Answer 1

Do be aware that there is a difference between accessibility in general and specifically Section 508 compliance and WCAG compliance. I can't tell you how many times I've had developers stand behind results that failed Section 508 review. Also, depending on the technology in use, a web page is different than a Java application or software application because of the focus on HTML, CSS, & JavaScript instead of OS-level api interaction of name, role, and state. Most web pages have embedded software via plugins!

Web pages: No automated tool can cover all accessibility issues - it may tell you if alt tags are missing and other obvious problematically determinable code tests, but it can't tell you if you used color and only color to identify a key UI element. Tools such as [Web Developer]1 can rapidly allow inspection.

1: Validate your web content against [W3C validator][2]!

The purpose isn't to just validate, as there is plenty of fully accessible code and false positives that fail, but W3C validator covers all the low-hanging fruit (missing alt, nested tables with bad tags, etc.)

You can also use tools such as [HTML Validator][3] if you need something local that doesn't go out your immediate LAN (for security or sensitive data concerns)

Raakt - The Ruby Accessibility Analysis Kit may be of interest: [http://www.peterkrantz.com/raakt/wiki/][4]

More info available at WebAIM: http://webaim.org/articles/freetools/

Java GUI: IBM Rule-based Accessibility Validation Environment (RAVEn)3, an Eclipse-based4 tool for inspecting and validating Java rich-client and Web-based GUI-oriented applications for accessibility: [http://www-03.ibm.com/able/resources/raven.html][5]

Java Ferret, Monkey: http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E17802_01/j2se/javase/technologies/accessibility/docs/jaccess-1.3/doc/examples.html

Flash GUI: Flash is plug-in software and should be evaluated with a tool native to the OS accessibility APIs. For most people that is MS Windows and tools such as Inspect32 should be used. See Microsoft Accessibility Package (MSAA SDK) via [http://blogs.msdn.com/b/seealso/archive/2010/07/22/where-did-the-accessibility-tools-go.aspx][6]

~NBR

Answer 2

Wave is like the w3c validator for accessibility. It's a great step to make sure everything reads right. As a bonus you don't have to install or keep up to date :)

Answer 3

WAVE is great. You can use it on their own website, or download a toolbar for your browser that allows you to check accessibility as you go. I use the toolbar regularly and find it extremely helpful and easy to use.

Answer 4

There is one click accessibility firefox add on called Web Accessibility Test (TAW). See details at TAW

-Devarshi

Answer 5

You can also use the FireEyes browser plugin from Deque Systems http://www.deque.com/products/fireeyes/

Answer 6

Recently W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) updated its Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List.

You can find it at this url:

http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/tools/