Accessibility Testing Tools for Navigation and Orientation

Web accessibility evaluation tools help examine if a web resource meets accessibility standards. Although these tools are based on the same accessibility principles, each tool operates based on its own set of evaluation criteria. These tools will only provide means to perform an evaluation with, and will not automatically determine whether a web resource is accessible.

Testing Options

Accessibility Testing Options Provided by Each Testing Tool

	Firefox Accessibility Extension	FAE	WAVE 3.0	AIS Toolbar
Unique Titles	x	x		x
Headings	x	x	x	x
Navigation Bars	x	x	x	x
Dynamic Menus
Form Labels	x	x	x	x
Language	x			x
Links	x		x	x
Lists			x	x
Simple Tables	x	x	x	x
Complex Tables	x	x	x	x
Access Keys	x	x	x	x
Frames	x	x	x	x

Firefox Accessibility Extension

Information on Firefox Accessibility Extention

FAE

Functional Accessibility Evaluator (FAE) analyzes web resources for markup that is consistent with the use of CITES/DRES HTML Best Practices for development of functionally accessible web resources that also support interoperability.

Read about FAE.

Testing from FAE Website

• http://www.fae.cita.uiuc.edu
• Test a single URL by entering the URL into the form.
• Create a sign-in for testing multiple URLs or an entire website.

Testing from Firefox Accessibility Extension

If you are browsing with Firefox and have Firefox Accessibility Extension installed, running FAE from the Extension offers a different way of testing accesibility of a single page you are currently browsing.

1. Tools button
2. FAE Report option

Summary Report

• Test Evaluation Summaries : Features links to detailed page report
• Test Evaluation Percentages : Breakdown of the test results by subcategories

Page Report

• Detailed report indicating Pass/Fail of each testing requirements

WAVE 3.0 Accessibility Tool

WAVE 3.0 Accessiblity Tool Website

• http://wave.webaim.org

Preferences Adjustment

WAVE 3.0 Accessibility Tool enables the user to adjust the preferences setting of the tool so that the user is able to check for specific accessibliity issues without being overwhelmed by other testing elements. Refer to Index of WAVE Icons and associated Accessibility standards for the testing choices you need.

Current WAVE Preferences

• Displays current preferences setting
• Change Preferences button

WAVE Preferences

1. Select desired choices in each section
2. Set Preferences button

Page Submission

• Verify that Current WAVE Preferrences are set to your specification.
• Method 1 : Enter the URL and submit.

AIS Toolbar

AIS Toolbar helps examination of web pages for a variety of aspects of accessibility by identifying components of the web resource and simulating user experience.

AIS Toolbar is used with Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Read more about AIS Toolbar on AIS website.