Validate your Site
Evaluation tools (also known as "accessibility checkers")
According to the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, evaluation tools "perform a static analysis of [web] pages or sites regarding their accessibility, and return a report or a rating." Note that evaluation tools may be client-based (authors voluntarily use them for checking their work) or server-based (the server generates advisory reports of compliance errors to a system administrator as well as the page owner). Tools vary on their ease of use, methods of detecting and reporting errors, and price. Most products have a free demonstration available to help you decide before buying. Of the many tools available, a summary of popular ones follows.
General desktop/online tools that perform tests for a variety of accessibility issues:
- Bobby is probably the best known accessibility evaluation tool. It allows you to check for either 508 or W3C. To test a page, enter its URL, select one of the report types and submit. The page will be shown with marks indicating failures or places that require user-validation. Each of these marks is a link to a comment in the report found farther down the page. Originally created by CAST, Bobby is now owned by WatchFire. While single pages may be checked free a Bobby's site (scroll past the buying info for the free online tool), the $99 product will check a website.
- Web Site Content Accessibility Test Trial from HiSoftware allows you to submit up to five pages only for a site that matches your email domain (for instance, paulukon@uwosh.edu could only receive reports on pages at http://www.uwosh.edu). You can select Section 508 or W3C WCAG 1.0 Priority One, Priority One and Two, or Priority One, Two, and Three. There is no charge for these reports.
- AccVerify SE for FrontPage, free from HiSoftware, is available through a strategic alliance with Microsoft.
- LIFT offers a free web-based accessibility checker for single pages. It is also available as an integrated part of Dreamweaver MX and a plug-in for FrontPage. Coding techniques are suggested for manually correcting accessibility problems. The commercial version offers additional functionality including repair. LIFT for Dreamweaver includes usability guidelines developed with the Neilsen/Norman Group. A server-based version is also available. UseableNet develops LIFT.
- WAET allows you to submit a URL to be screened for possible Section 508 infractions. Results may be displayed in a chart format (potentially easier for those familiar with web page design and the standards) or in a text version (better for those with less experience and for those with screen readers).Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool was developed at California State University, Fresno.
- HTML Validator allows authors to check their HTML syntax. Valid HTML is less likely to cause problems with different browsers and more likely to survive the next browser release. In addition, some guidelines require conformation with the latest HTML specifications. You can check online pages or upload files from your computer. Also includes a batch mode and the ability to enter HTML directly. The Web Design Group provides this HTML validator.
Specialized
- Clear Language and Effectiveness Tool checks your web text to determine the Grade Reading Level. You limit the accessibility of your web pages if the language on your page is too difficult for your intended audience. East End Literacy in Toronto, Canada provides this tool for free.
- XProof is a color previewing and information tool that includes the ability to simulate three different types of color blindness. Available only for the Macintosh.(A Windows version is in the works.) Colorfield develops XProof.
- Insight simulates three different types of color blindness. It is available only as a Photoshop plug-in for Macintosh OS 8.5+ (incompatible with OS X) and requires certain versions of Macromedia Fireworks or Adobe products. A free demo is available. Colorfield develops Insight. [NOTE: We may wish to delete this one given that the previous bullet item is a little more widely useable]
- Vischeck simulates three different types of color blindness. Freely available online to check web pages and images (supports all file types). Also available as a free plugin for Photoshop (Windows only) and ImageJ. Vischeck is also the company name.
Repair tools
Repair tools not only check for errors but create coding to fix your page.
- A-Prompt verifies accessibility guidelines that might not be determinable via browsers. A-Prompt searches the source code file against the W3C/WAI Guidelines or Section 508 guidelines. The program gives options for an immediate fix, if possible. If a fix is selected, A-Prompt inserts the correct code into the file. The software is made available for free through the joint efforts of the University of Toronto's Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ATRC) and the TRACE Center at the University of Wisconsin.
- AccRepair, which includes AccVerify, uses the reporting/verification components of AccVerify to launch the repair wizard--then allows you to correct errors through the wizard interface. The program initiates automatic or interactive repairs as required, searching the source code file against the W3C/WAI Guidelines or Section 508 guidelines. AccRepair also uses a library which learns as you use it so that as correct errors. An educational license for AccRepair or AccRepair for FrontPage is $200. HiSoftware sells AccRepair.
- LIFT is available as an integrated part of Dreamweaver MX and a plug-in for FrontPage. It is intended to be used as pages are being created, but can also be used to check pages after creation. LIFT for Dreamweaver includes usability guidelines. This version was developed with the Neilsen/Norman Group. LIFT also offers a free web-based accessibility checker for single pages. UseableNet develops LIFT.
Supplemental Materials
- Evaluation, Repair and Transformation Tools for Web Content Accessibility is a collection of information about evaluation, repair, and transformation tools to be used by Web content developers and users to make the Web more accessible. The list is maintained by the W3C.
- HTML Tidy is a free utility for fixing coding mistakes automatically and tidy up sloppy editing into nicely layed out markup. It also works on the hard to read markup generated by specialized HTML editors and conversion tools. It can also identify where you need to pay further attention on making your pages more accessible to people with disabilities.