In the world of consulting, clients wanting the best product possible for the cheapest price available is common. The conversation around cost-saving measures is both recurring and never-ending. Too often when these conversations happen, QA and testing is severely limited and development receives more of the budget. However, developers can be blind to their own code, or unaware of best practices in areas of development they are less familiar.
One of these blind spots can come from web accessibility: more than just font size and color contrast, web accessibility includes other considerations such as tab order, heading sizes and orders, field and form behaviors, component functions, and much, much more. Neglecting web accessibility in favor of having a flashy website may sound like a financially wise decision at the time, but this neglect can be costly. According to accessible.org, “web accessibility litigation settles for between $5000 and $20000.”
Testing for web accessibility and ADA compliance does not need to be costly nor time-consuming. There are many tools that exist to assist with these efforts.
With that in mind, here are a few free ADA tools that can save businesses some money in the long run:
The people behind WebAIM are no strangers to web accessibility, having operated in this relatively niche space for over 20 years. As a non-profit organization from the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice at Utah State University WebAIM has spent years making web accessibility as, well, accessible as they possibly could. From offering in-person classes and working sessions to offering free tools to ensure WCAG 2.2 compliancy, WebAIM has plenty to help people with their accessibility needs.
One of these free tools is the WAVE tool, a browser extension that allows users to evaluate web content with the click of a button. With its easy-to-use design and simplistic explanations for WCAG 2.2 guidelines, WAVE is one of my most used ADA extensions.
Pros
- Organized into multiple tabs so the user can see a summary view, detailed view, page structure, tab order, contrast levels, and explanations for WCAG 2.2.
- Nothing is sent to a server; everything is evaluated via rendered page versions.
- Only works on one page at a time – no agility to do a site-wide scan.
Cons
- Pages can become busy and difficult to understand when viewing the Details tab because of all the icons that can appear.
- Page “breaks” visually.
- Errors are not broken down by “type”.
SiteImprove / Chrome extension
SiteImprove is perhaps one of the better known and more commonly used accessibility tools. This one tool assists with more than accessibility: it helps with site analytics, performance, SEO, quality assurance, and ads, with features that allow users to have a far better understanding of multiple facets of their website than they would otherwise.
These features, however, come at a cost. Literally. Fortunately for those of us who are operating on a budget or just need a tool to help with one of those features, SiteImprove does have a free browser extension. While this free extension does not have the same capabilities as the full version of the tool it does have the ability to run an accessibility check on individual pages; for testing purposes, the free extension absolutely does the job.
Pros
- Includes what level and type of compliance is being flagged.
- Explains the issue, where it is, and the number of occurrences.
- Explains why the issue is actually an issue.
- Highlights the specific area the issue is being flagged at.
Cons
- Only allows for one page to be scanned at a time.
- Has most features locked behind a paywall.
- Environment being tested needs to be public-facing.
- All information is on one screen – no tabs or division or summary view.
Deque axe DevTools / Chrome extension
Deque proclaims to be “the most widely used and trusted accessibility tool in the world.” Like the other two extensions mentioned, Deque offers not only tools to identify accessibility misses, but also offers services and trainings to help teams be more proactive with web accessibility. Where it differs is that it offers different tools for the different roles within a development team: there’s the axe Auditor specifically for QA testers; the axe Monitor, that assists with maintaining accessibility on a website or software; and axe DevTools, that helps with on-going development efforts.
Unfortunately for me as QA, the axe Auditor is locked behind a paywall. But fortunately for me, axe Devtools is easy enough to use. While it is more for developers its ability to fully scan a page makes it worth using for any team role.
Pros
- Issues are grouped together in plain language that clearly states the issue.
- Provides a summary view that breaks down what issues are critical, moderate, minor, or serious.
- Its highlighter functionality clearly points out where issues are located; with this being part of the browser’s devtools, the development information is also presented.
- More customizable in what information it shows (best practices can be toggled on or off, how to fix issues are noted right under the issue).
Cons
- Only allows for one page to be scanned at a time.
- Most features are locked behind a paywall.
- Its smaller window size can make navigating the tool difficult, especially since all information is on this one window.
Conclusion
In conclusion, prioritizing web accessibility isn’t just about meeting legal requirements—it’s about ensuring an inclusive digital experience for all users, while also protecting businesses from costly lawsuits. While budget constraints may lead some to overlook this crucial aspect, the availability of free tools like WAVE, SiteImprove, and axe DevTools makes accessibility more achievable than ever. By incorporating these tools into your development and testing processes, you can create websites that are both user-friendly and compliant, saving both time and money in the long run. Accessibility is not just a box to check—it’s an investment in a more inclusive and sustainable web.