Essential Accessibility Testing Tools

Automated Testing Tools

WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool

WAVE is a free tool developed by WebAIM that provides visual feedback about accessibility issues.

• Best for: Quick visual assessment
• Features: Color-coded indicators, detailed reports
• Website: https://wave.webaim.org/

axe DevTools

Developer tools extension for automated accessibility testing.

• Best for: Developer workflow integration
• Features: Browser extensions, API, CLI
• Website: https://www.deque.com/axe/

Google Lighthouse

Built into Chrome DevTools for accessibility auditing.

• Best for: Performance and accessibility together
• Features: Integrated workflow, scoring

Manual Testing Tools

Screen Readers

• NVDA (Windows) - Free
• JAWS (Windows) - Commercial
• VoiceOver (macOS/iOS) - Built-in
• NV Access (Android) - Built-in

Keyboard Navigation

Test all functionality using only keyboard navigation:

• Tab through interactive elements
• Use arrow keys for menus and lists
• Test custom keyboard shortcuts

Color Contrast Tools

• WebAIM Color Contrast Checker: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
• Stark (Sketch/Figma plugin)
• Contrast Ratio calculator