a11y-evaluation-tools list

In this link there is a Google Spreadsheet that includes a list of tools that can be used to evaluate the accessibility of web content and non-web content (mobile applications, desktop applications, documents):

a11y-evaluation-tools list

It is possible to collaborate, sending proposals for corrections of the list, or new tools to be included. For this you can open an issue on GitHub, or send a message to jose.hilera@uah.es, or via twitter at @software_a11y.

The meaning of the columns in the list is the following:

Column Description
TOOL Name of the evaluation tool.
URL URL of the tool.
W3C LIST Indicates if the tool is included in the Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List that is maintained by the W3C.
The value can be:
  • Yes: It is included.
  • No: It is not included.
  • Rev: The tool has been sent by its authors to the W3C asking for its inclusion in the list.
CATEGORY Indicates the category of the tool:
  • Assistive Technology: It is a software tool that is used by people with disabilities, which allows you to test accessibility by putting yourself in the user's place. The specific type of technology is indicated in parentheses, such as: Braille Interface, Magnifier, Screen Reader, Switch Interface, Text Web Browser, User Interface Customizer, Voice Assistant.
  • Automatic Evaluation Tool: Tool that checks accessibility automatically.
  • Checklist: It is a list (it can be a simple document) that helps to record the compliance or not of accessibility requirements.
  • Monitoring Service: It is a service, normally paid, that obtains accessibility reports, either instantaneously, or after a set deadline when the report is completed with content provided by experts or users with disabilities.
  • Remediation Tool: Tool that automatically corrects accessibility errors, usually in a web page.
  • User Simulator: Software that simulates some type of user, for example users with a visual disability, that allows to put themselves in the user's place to check the barriers offered by the content accessed with the simulated disability.
  • Visualization Tool: Tool that displays or marks elements of a web page or, in general, the user interface on the screen, helping the evaluator to check certain accessibility requirements.
TYPE Indicates the specific type of the tool, according to how it is used or installed.
The types used are:
  • Application Plugin: It is an extension of some known application (web or desktop).
  • Authoring Tool Plugin: It is an extension of some known application (web or desktop) for editing, for example a text editor or a software development environment.
  • Browser Plugin: It is an extension for a web browser. Parentheses indicate the name of the browser or, if applicable, if it is a valid extension for any browser in the form of a bookmarklet.
  • Command Line Tool: The tool is executed from a shell of an operating system.
  • CSS: The tool is a stylesheet to highlight HTML elements.
  • Desktop Application: The tool is a stand-alone application.
  • Document: The tool is a simple digital document, for example, a Word document, a pdf or a spreadsheet.
  • Mobile Application: It is an application to be executed on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet.
  • On Demand service: The user must make a formal request or registration to be able to use the services offered by the tool.
  • Online Tool: It is a tool that is used online through a web browser.
  • Testing Library: The tool is not an application ready to be used by an evaluator, but it is offered as a library so that the evaluators can create their own tool using this library.
  • Web API: The tool offers its functionality through the Web in the form of an API installed on a server, usually with RESTful or RESTful technology. In some cases, the API can be downloaded and the evaluator can install it on its own local server in stand-alone mode.
  • Web Application: The tool is an application that the evaluator has to install on a web server in order to use it.
  • Web Form: It is a simple web page that includes a form that can be filled in, downloaded and used in local mode as a simple document, without associated functionality on the server.
  • Web Page Plugin (widget): It is a extension to be integrated in a web page.
SCOPE Indicates the object or property whose accessibility is to be evaluated.
It can be one of the following:
  • Color Contrast: The tool is specific to assess the appropriate contrast between colors.
  • Desktop Application: The tool evaluates the accessibility of a desktop application.
  • Document: The tool evaluates the accessibility of the content of a document, such as pdf, docx, pptx, xslx, epub, video , animation.
  • Javascript Code: The tool analyzes the existence of accessibility problems if a certain JavaScript code is executed.
  • Mobile Application: The tool detects accessibility problems in a smartphone or tablet application.
  • Software: The tool (usually a checklist) can help evaluate the accessibility of any non-web software.
  • Text Readability: When it is a specific tool to evaluate the readability of a piece of text.
  • User Interface: The tool (usually an assistive technology or an user simulator) helps to evaluate possible accessibility problems presented by the user interface of any type of application or document.
  • Web Page: The tool evaluates the accessibility of an individual web page.
  • Web Site: The tool evaluates the accessibility of a group of web pages, normally included in the same website.
LICENCE Indicates the conditions of use of the tool.
It can be one of the following:
  • Commercial: It is necessary to pay to be able to use the tool.
  • Free: It is not necessary to pay to use the tool.
  • Open Source: In addition to free use, it is possible to obtain the source code of the tool.
  • Trial: It is a commercial tool, but there is a trial or demo version with limitations.
USES When a tool makes use internally of another tool in the list, this column indicates the name of the tool used.
COMMENTS Any additional comments.
INCLUDED IN Date when the tool was included in the list.
LAST VERSION Date of the latest version of the tool.
OTHER TYPES When a tool is offered in different versions as tools of different type.