Summary
Conduct manual and software-assisted accessibility checks when you create, update, or add features to digital content.
You should frequently assess the accessibility of your digital content, such as a single document or web page, a web site, or an entire domain. A thorough process includes both the use of automated tools and manual assessments conducted by knowledgeable humans.
Manual Assessments
The Web Accessibility Initiative provides a guide to evaluating web accessibility that includes information about manual assessment methods.
- Easy Checks — A First Review of Web Accessibility
- WCAG-EM Overview: Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology
- Involving Users in Evaluating Web Accessibility
- Using Combined Expertise to Evaluate Web Accessibility
Assessment Tools
Canvas Course Sites Inspector
Beginning in spring 2020, instructors can use the Universal Design Online Content Inspection Tool (UDOIT) tool to identify accessibility issues in an entire Canvas course site, plus get suggestions about how to fix the issues .
Digital Document Checkers
Accessibility checkers highlight areas in your document that might be problematic for people with disabilities, as well as for anyone using assistive technology. Accessibility checkers can:
- Catch accessibility mistakes
- Provide guidance about how to fix accessibility errors
- Update according to changes in tools and accessibility-related laws
Accessibility checkers cannot find all accessibility issues. In addition, accessibility checkers won't be able to tell you whether your content makes sense or is out of date. Accessibility checkers and critical thinking must work in tandem to create an accessible document.
| Tool | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word accessibility tool | A built-in feature that is one of the quickest ways to check your document; works with any version of Word that was released after 2010 | Consult the list of rules for Microsoft's Accessibility Checker. |
| Google Docs | At present, Google Docs does not have a built-in accessibility checker, but one way to check your Google Doc is to use the accessibility checker built into Microsoft Word |
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| Walks users through accessibility fixes for content created in some Google Apps; not currently available to accounts managed by the University of Minnesota, but you can try them with a personal account |
Keyboard and Screen Reader Testing
Keyboard Testing
Testing with a keyboard is an essential part of any accessibility evaluation. In order to use a screen reader it also is necessary to learn some simple keyboard commands.
See WebAIM's Keyboard Testing.
Screen Reader Testing
A screen reader is software that enables people who are blind or have low vision to use a computer. When considering web accessibility it is helpful to have an idea how a blind person uses the web.
- Similar to sighted people who get their first impression of a web page from its structure and layout, so will a blind person “scan” the page for structural elements (headings, landmarks, title, and links).
- Once an area of interest is found, a blind person will use the screen reader shortcuts to navigate to that section of the web page.
- The user will either listen to the content as the screen reader reads it, or use a Braille display to read it.
There are several screen readers available. At the University of Minnesota we officially support the two described below.
| Tool | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| JAWS (Job Access with Speech for Windows) | Windows-based application that captures text-based output and speaks it using synthesized speech AKA: Text To Speech (TTS), or sends it to a refreshable Braille display; Hotkey combinations provide access to reading, navigational, and system controls | |
| VoiceOver for Mac | Apple OSX and iOS application that captures text-based output and speaks it using synthesized speech AKA: Text To Speech (TTS), or sends it to a refreshable Braille display; Hotkey combinations or finger gestures provide access to reading, navigational, and system controls | Voiceover Getting Started |
The Computer Accommodations Program offers adaptive technology services to members of the university community, including services related to JAWS and VoiceOver. Email [email protected] for more information.
Website Audit Tools
A Web accessibility audit assesses the accessibility of a web page, a web site, or an entire domain. A thorough audit includes the use of both automated tools and manual assessments. An audit identifies issues such as:
- Page structure (correct use of headings, for example)
- Alt-text for graphics
- Form labels and controls
- Color contrast
The most popular and easiest to use audit tools are listed in the table below. Depending on the complexity of the page and the tool you use, it may take from 1 to 30 minutes to evaluate a page, site, or domain.
While these tools provide fairly comprehensive checks, some issues can only be detected manually, such as:
- Keyboard navigation
- Quality of alt text
- Magnification
| Tool | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Pope Tech | Website editors can use Pope Tech to scan a website or single web page for accessibility issues and see a report of specific errors along with their exact location | See the Pope Tech page for UMN self-help resources. |
| WAVE Browser Extensions or WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool | A free tool available as an extension for Chrome or Firefox or a web-based tool that helps you evaluate the accessibility of web content; the extensions provide more thorough results than the web-based tool below |
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| Functional Accessibility Evaluator (FAE) | An open source, no cost tool that analyzes web pages for accessibility and offers coding support; you must register for an account, but no download is required | See the About section on the FAE site, such as the Getting Started page. |
| AInspector Sidebar for Firefox | A Firefox plug-in that evaluates a single page, but allows you to drill down to the element level and inspect the markup; also provides the ability to evaluate web applications when the content of the page is changing based on user interactions or other events | See user guides on the AInspector Sidebar site. |