Accessibility

The following three resources are automated browser extensions that evaluate a given webpage and list the potential issues that are able to be programmatically determined. As with all automated accessibility checkers, they cannot be fully comprehensive, but they're fantastic for checking your work. The W3C provides a similar Markup Validation Service, except it runs as a standalone webpage that takes a URL as input.

• AInspector WCAG Firefox Extension
• aXe Developer Tools Browser Extensions
• WAVE
• W3C Markup Validation Service

The next two resources allow the user to view HTML structures that are pertinent to accessibility. Rather than automatically evaluating the page and enumerating the issues, they provide aid in more efficiently evaluating a page manually. ANDI is a single tool that provides detailed information on a variety of structures, while the Bookmarklets are a collection of individual utilities that each visually highlight specific HTML structures on the page.

• ANDI (Accessible Name & Description Inspector)
• Accessibility Bookmarklets

The following resources aid the user in checking the contrast of foreground and background elements to ensure adequate contrast for readability.

Color Contrast Analyzer (CCA)

The Color Contrast Analyzer is a desktop application that will take a foreground and background color and provide information on the level of WCAG compliance as well as its contrast ratio.

WebAIM Color Contrast Checker

The WebAIM Color Contrast Checker performs the same kind of function as the CCA above, but it is hosted on a webpage rather than as a desktop app.

Colorzilla

Colorzilla is an extension that allows the user to grab the hex codes of various colors on a webpage, among providing other color-related utilities. It does not include contrast checking.

Coloring for Colorblindness

This page provides an interactive space to play with colors and palettes while also considering how they would be perceived by colorblind viewers.

Screen readers allow an unsighted user to perceive and interact with a computer or mobile device by only using the keyboard.

• JAWS for Windows
• NVDA for Windows
• VoiceOver for macOS
• TalkBack for Android

Similar to the screen reader is a text-to-speech utility such as Kurzweil 3000. These will also read text content aloud to the user, but they tend to be less full-featured than a screen reader.

The reverse of the text-to-speech tool is a speech recognition utility. A tool such as Dragon Naturally Speaking allows the user to speak their text input rather than using they keyboard to type it.

The university provides a system-wide license for the Aira Visual Interpreter App, a visual interpreting service that connects individuals who are blind or have low vision with trained professionals via secure video calls. By geofencing campus locations, Aira enables students, employees, and visitors to receive real-time visual support for navigating physical spaces, accessing printed materials, and participating fully in campus life.