Making your website accessible isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must. Whether you’re a business owner, designer, or developer, you need some accessibility tools to ensuring your website is usable for everyone, including people with disabilities, is essential. The good news? There are some excellent accessibility tools available to help you identify and fix common barriers.
While this is not exhaustive, here are the top accessibility tools every website owner should know:
1. WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
Developed by WebAIM, WAVE is a browser-based tool that highlights accessibility issues directly on your web pages. It identifies missing alt text, low contrast elements, structural problems, and more. A great first step for quick visual checks.
2. Axe DevTools
Axe is a powerful, developer-friendly extension that integrates with browser dev tools. It offers clear guidance and links to help you fix accessibility issues with your code. It’s trusted by accessibility professionals worldwide.
3. Lighthouse Accessibility Tool
Built into Chrome, Lighthouse offers audits for performance, SEO, and accessibility. While not as in-depth as some other tools, it’s a useful baseline to assess your site’s overall health, with a simple accessibility score out of 100.
4. NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows that allows you to experience your site as visually impaired users might. Testing your site with NVDA helps identify if content is navigable and readable via keyboard and speech.
5. Colour Contrast Analyser
This tool helps check if text, image and background colour combinations meet WCAG contrast guidelines. It’s especially useful for designers to ensure text remains legible across devices and lighting conditions.
6. Screen Reader Testing (VoiceOver, TalkBack)
If you’re on a Mac, VoiceOver is built-in. For Android, you can use TalkBack. Testing with real screen readers, not just automated tools, gives you first-hand insight into how accessible (or not) your website / mobile app really is.
7. Accessibility Insights
From Microsoft, this tool is excellent for in-depth accessibility testing. It supports automated checks, tab stops, and screen reader scenarios. Ideal for dev teams wanting to stay WCAG compliant.
Final Thoughts
Accessibility is about more than just ticking boxes, it’s about creating inclusive experiences for everyone. By using these tools regularly, you’ll not only improve your website’s usability but also build trust with your audience and stay on the right side of the law.
Mastering these tools can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to us, we’re here to guide you every step of the way!