A variety of assessment tools exist for the web author. These tools address accessibility during and after the design phase. This discussion is by no means complete, and serves as an introduction to accessibility tools for the most common applications. There is a fairly comprehensive list of accessibility checkers located at:
http://www.webaim.org/products/evalandrepair/It is important to note that accessibility checkers cannot catch all accessibility errors. Only about 25% of published accessibility guidelines (when using WCAG guidelines) are automatically verifiable with accessibility checking software. The other 75% may be indicated by accessibility checking software, but must be verified by the author.
IMPORTANT:Only 25% of all accessibility guidelines can be automatically verified using accessibility checking software. The other 75% must be manually verified.
Design Phase Tools These tools are integrated into a variety of web authoring software packages.
Dreamweaver – Dreamweaver is a full-featured professional web authoring tool. Macromedia, the vendor for Dreamweaver, has been committed to accessibility in their products for a number of years. To view a list of accessibility options in Dreamweaver, visit: http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/mx/dw/overview.html
Microsoft Frontpage - Microsoft's web authoring tool has only recently addressed accessibility. Microsoft's strategy is to incorporate a third-party post-publication accessibility tool that works with Frontpage formatted website. The AccVerify accessibility checker is designed to work especially with Frontpage and is available at no charge to licensed Frontpage users. http://www.hisoftware.com/msacc/ General information about Frontpage accessibility can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/using/accessibility/default.htm
Post-Design Phase Checkers - Non-Enterprise Non-enterprise accessibility checkers are designed to be used by web authors to assess websites after they have been authored. The timing of the assessment can vary widely. Experienced web authors will routinely use accessibility checkers as they are working on Web content. But accessibility can be assessed at any time after content is authored. These checkers work well with small to moderate numbers of pages, and in an environment where the author has direct access to the pages, rather than solely through the web.
Bobby - Perhaps the most well known of all accessibility checkers is Bobby. Bobby was originally authored by the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) http://www.cast.org/, but was recently adopted by Watchfire, Inc. http://www.watchfire.com/. Bobby works as a standalone Java application that assesses websites after they have been authored. The software can comprehensively assess websites for WCAG and Section 508 standards, and publishes a web-based or XML-based report of the errors, including help on how to fix them. Watchfire also publishes an online version of Bobby which can evaluate one page at a time: http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp You can enter a web address of a publicly accessible page through the online tool. This will give you an idea of the type of report Bobby generates. The standalone application (which Watchfire sells for a small fee) can check an entire website at once. Meeting the accessibility guidelines allows the user to apply a "Bobby Approved" logo on the web page, an indication the page has been checked for accessibility errors.
WAVE - Another online accessibility checker similar to Bobby. WAVE provides a simplified report that some people find easier to read. http://wave.webaim.org/index.jsp
A-Prompt – A free standalone accessibility checker similar to Bobby. A-Prompt is based tightly on the WCAG guidelines. http://aprompt.snow.utoronto.ca/
Post-Design Phase Checkers - Enterprise Enterprise level accessibility checkers are designed to assess large websites that are maintained by a variety of authors. Enterprise accessibility tools are maintained centrally and offer multi-user support, usually through a web interface. They are not well suited for design-phase assessment.
Accessibility Monitor - AccVerify's enterprise offering maintains web accessibility through a paid service using a web interface: http://www.accessibilitymonitor.com/
WebXM - Authored by Watchfire, WebXM provides a robust accessibility/usability engine designed to work with the Microsoft Internet Information Server. The software offers a completely web-based interface, customizable corporate standards, usability measures, and multiple account management so that an administrator can provide corporate support to multiple web authors: http://www.watchfire.com/products/webxm/default.aspx
LIFT – Authored by UsableNet, LIFT provides both an online accessibility/usability engine and a standalone version for Unix based servers. The software is managed through a web interface and allows multiple users and profiles. It can also serve a dual purpose as a design phase tool. http://www.usablenet.com/
