Our Favorite Web Accessibility Tools
Embracing web accessibility is not just a matter of legal compliance; it's an opportunity to foster inclusivity, diversity, and equal access to information and services
Access to the internet is indispensable. It’s how we buy essential goods, learn breaking news, and stay in touch with our communities. It’s crucial that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can access and navigate the online world with ease.
Imagine strolling through a bustling marketplace with lots of stalls, each offering unique goods and experiences. Maybe you’ll stop and look at things you find interesting before moving on to find something else. Maybe you’ll also be able to tell quickly which stalls have what you’re looking for and which don’t. Now, imagine that same bustling marketplace, but this time there are a few obstacles blocking your path. It’s harder to tell which stalls have what you need and which will be a waste of time. The web is no different. While the internet holds tremendous potential for connection and empowerment, it can unintentionally exclude millions of people if websites are not designed with accessibility in mind.
Embracing web accessibility is not just a matter of legal compliance; it's an opportunity to foster inclusivity, diversity, and equal access to information and services. Explore these free web accessibility tools, and let's make the web a welcoming space for everyone, one accessible website at a time!
Here are some of our favorite resources for improving digital accessibility:
WebAIM's WAVE
WAVE allows you to enter a website URL and get a detailed report on accessibility issues, including contrast errors, text size alerts, and structural elements that may need attention.
Color Contrast Analyzers
While you’re checking out WebAIM, give their Contrast Checker a look too. This tool checks the contrast ratio between text and background colors to ensure readability for individuals with visual impairments. There are lots of online color contrast analyzers available, but this one is super simple to use and is especially helpful when you’re in the design phase and planning a palette.
Axe by Deque Systems
Axe offers a suite of accessibility testing tools that can be integrated into various web browsers and development environments. Their free Chrome extension helps identify accessibility issues and provides guidance on how to fix them.
Lighthouse
Lighthouse is an open-source tool developed by Google that audits web pages for performance, accessibility, SEO, and more. It can be used as a browser extension and run on any web page you visit. Our favorite part? Each audit has a reference doc explaining why the audit is important, what the problems are, and how to fix them.
Pa11y
Pa11y is a command-line tool that allows you to test web pages for accessibility using the command prompt. It provides detailed reports on accessibility issues and supports integration with continuous integration (CI) systems.
Remember, while automated tools can be helpful for identifying common accessibility issues, manual testing and user feedback are also essential to ensure comprehensive accessibility compliance!
Looking for more? Revisit our takeaways from axe-con, the world’s largest digital accessibility conference here.