Testing Tools
Here are some tools and practices you can start using to make your websites more accessible for people with hearing, visual, physical, and cognitive disabilities.
Best Practices
Ways to test:
- No hearing: most deaf or hard-of-hearing people have limited difficulty with web accessibility, but make sure that any pieces of audio or video have captions or a text-based script.
- No mouse: many users with limited mobility can only interact with the screen via keyboard. Other users use a mouse, but have trouble with fine motor control. Try using only your keyboard to navigate the website you are working. (Utilize the Tab, Enter, Space, and Arrow Keys).
- No sight: test your website with a screenreader. Chrome Vox, JAWS, VoiceOver, NVDA are all acceptable.
- Low or tunnel vision: try zooming in on your designs to see how they look when enlarged. Additionally, use some of the color and contrast tools we have linked to in order to make sure all of your ratios are adequate.
- Cognitive disability: Design and write your websites simply, consistently, and clearly. See our section on cognitive disabilities for more information.
Testing Tools
Browser Extension Tools
- tota11y: an accessibility visualization toolkit
- pa11y: your automated accessibility testing pal
- Highlight accessibility features of web pages
- Wave Accessibility Chrome Extension
- Accessibility Bookmarks: Highlight accessibility features of web pages
- Chrome Vox Screenreader Extension
- Accessibility Developer Tools
Color, Contrast, & Accessible Design Tools
- Contrast Ratio Tool
- Web Accessibility Tips for Designers
- Tanaguru Contrast-Finder
- Paciello Colour Contrast Anaylser
- Web AIM Color Contrast Checker