5 Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools You Should Equip to Ensure AODA Compliance

Web accessibility is not just a law issue, but it is the issue that makes the Web accessible to all people – including people with disabilities. The business sector, with more than 50 employees, and all public organizations should follow the requirements stated in the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). 

With the full compliance by 2025 deadline in sight, frequently reviewing digital content for accessibility is now a requirement for organizations. In the following, five tools are listed which are useful in achieving the AODA accessibility standards for web accessibility issues.

Why Web Accessibility Matters

Now, let’s discuss the purpose of web accessibility before moving to the tools list. The World Health Organization estimates that over 1 billion people globally live with a disability of one form or the other. According to the 2016 Ontario population, about 2,644,060 people in Ontario have a disability. This means that by making your website accessible, you not only meet the legal recourses but also cater to a large population of disabled people.

The AODA specifically mandates that any business with fifty or more people as employees and all public sector bodies provide web access. Noncompliance has serious consequences, and the penalty for not keeping compliance can amount to $100,000 per day for corporations. So, let’s consider tools that can help you achieve and maintain AODA compliance.

Top 5 Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools 

Making sure everyone can access your website is not just a legal issue. It is a social one. The five powerful tools explained in this article will effectively assist in preparing documents that conform to AODA accessibility standards.

1. WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)

WAVE is the accessibility evaluation tool that is favored by most people and was developed by WebAIM. WAVE overlays graphic icons and indicator bars right on the webpage to give a snapshot of that webpage’s accessibility profile. Problems like lack of alt tags for images or problems with headings are shown, and the developers are able to correct them easily.

WAVE scans content against WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and the browser plugin is compatible with Chrome and Firefox. It is a great tool to use when considering heading structure, links, ARIA details, and color checks for AODA compliance.

Key Features:

• Undisclosed icons in the webpage layout to translate accessibility violations
• Contrast analysis according to the WCAG rules
• A browser extension for convenience.

2. Axe Accessibility Tool

Axe is another popular tool that developers of Google and Microsoft use. It is an automated accessibility testing tool that can be used right from the browser developer tools. While other tools provide high-level information, Axe provides information on the code level, making it appropriate for developers who want to solve the problem at the source.

It looks for violations against WCAG 2.0 and 2.1, which makes it essential when it comes to AODA accessibility. Axe has free Chrome and Firefox extensions and can be configured based on rules that may conform to your web development processes.

Key Features:

• Evaluation of the accessibility for diverse interfaces
• Selective insights for a quick resolution for the developers.
• Specific settings according to different compliance levels.

3. Color Contrast Analyser (CCA)

Contrast is very important in web accessibility in that it is possible to know that all users, including those with visual impairment, will be able to read text on a particular webpage. Color Contrast Analyser (CCA) is a tool for Windows desktops that checks the color contrast ratio of any element in the foreground and background.

This tool scans web contents against WCAG 2.1 Level AA and AAA guidelines. It also allows you to test different types of color blindness and make sure that your website is perfectly fine for people with a particular disorder. 

Key Features:

• Ensure contrast ratios are measured correctly
• It imitates some kinds of color blindness
• Complying with WCAG 2.1 Level AA and AAA standards

4. ANDI (Accessible Name and Description Inspector)

ANDI is a simple cross-platform, cross-browser tool that was devised specially for developers and testers to assess the accessibility of web content. It aims to explain WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 compliance and give information about buttons, forms, and images. It is most useful for absolutely instantaneous, in-browser checks, even letting you see exactly how a screen reader interacts with a specific web element in real-time.

Hence, ANDI stands out among similar tools, as it can point out possible problems with keyboard accessibility and the order of tabs and hidden elements, which is crucial for users with disabilities.

Key Features:

• It highlights focusable elements and keyboard navigation problems.
• Shows how the page elements would look like to a screen reader
• Online inspection for on-the-spot repair and corrections

5. ARC Toolkit

ARC Toolkit is a Chrome extension designed by The Paciello Group and provides more than simple automated checks, including powerful evaluation tools. ARC enables developers to get into code and pinpoint accessibility problem areas around images, tables, or iframes. They also give detailed reports and suggestions, which in turn makes it a perfect tool for sustaining accessibility improvements.

For businesses that want to achieve AODA compliance, the ARC Toolkit effectively tests all the elements on a website so that expensive accessibility lawsuits are prevented.

Key Features:

• Exploratory and technical testing of products and services
• Interoperates with developers’ instruments for more detailed analysis of the code
• Reports complete with clear and practical recommendations

Conclusion

To maintain AODA accessibility, your website must be checked regularly, not just because of legal implications, but to make the online world more accessible to all. Using tools such as WAVE, Axe, CCA, ANDI, and ARC Toolkit, you will be able to perform your check and learn where there is lagging between the two primary important standards: WCAG and AODA.

All these tools are not only legal requirements but also convenient for all users. Web accessibility is a continuous process, and these tools are very useful for keeping up with updates.

Key Takeaways

• Website necessity is important to make it accessible for all people and follow the AODA accessibility standards.
• WAVE and Axe offer scanning functionalities that perform tests in a few moments and display overlays to highlight problematic areas.
• ANDI improves the user experience for those who have to use such assistive tools as screen readers by testing keyboard navig