8 Web Accessibility Checking Tools for Personnel to Use

2024/04/16

When conducting accessibility compliance for websites, you must improve and build the site in accordance with established standards.Web accessibility check toolsThe most efficient approach is to use them to verify whether improvements align with the standards while carrying out the necessary actions.

With the obligation to provide reasonable accommodations for web accessibility, many businesses and web managers are considering implementing check tools for their site's accessibility compliance.

Web accessibility check tools areFrom tools specialized in specific accessibility issues to comprehensive tools for checking the accessibility of entire websitesVarious tools are provided.

Therefore, this time,Widely used for web accessibility compliance.As follows,Eight check toolsare presented.

Because the requirements for accessibility are diverse, it's essential to use these tools according to their intended purposes to continue making effective progress. This article will explain these web accessibility tools in detail as well as the processes involved in working toward web accessibility compliance.

Eight web accessibility check tools for evaluating websites.

When responding to web accessibility, the first step isObjectively assess the usability (accessibility) of your own site.It is necessary to do so. By using web accessibility check tools to evaluate your site’s accessibility, you can determine what actions are needed.

Here, we introduce typical tools commonly used for site accessibility compliance, divided into free and paid options, so please use them for checking the accessibility of your company’s site. The tools we will introduce are as follows.

◆Web accessibility check tools introduced in this article

Now, let's explain each of these tools one by one.

Free web accessibility check tools.

First, let me introduce four representative free accessibility check tools.

Tool ① (Free) Everyone's Accessibility Evaluation Tool 'miChecker Ver.3.0'

'miChecker' isDeveloped and provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.This is a tool that checks whether a website complies with JIS X 8341-3:2016, and it is recommended to use this first. Mainly, it can simulate how elderly users and visually impaired users see the site and check usability in terms of the reading order when using screen reading software.

Automatically evaluates areas that can be verified mechanically, while also providing support for areas that must be verified manually.It allows for efficient verification work. Additionally, there are accompanying documents to support the verification, soThrough the use of this tool, it is also possible to acquire relevant knowledge of web accessibility..

miChecker is open source software, and the source code is publicly available, allowing anyone to modify it freely and continuously improve it. However,It only supports Windows OS, and also requires a Java (64-bit version) runtime environment.So caution is necessary.

◆miChecker screen

◆Attached Document (Part)

Details about 'miChecker Ver.3.0' can be found here.

Tool ② (Free) Lighthouse

Lighthouse is a check tool provided by Google,Google Chrome ExtensionAvailable from. Lighthouse evaluates sites based on five perspectives according to Google’s unique standards: 'Performance', 'Accessibility', 'Best Practices', 'SEO', and 'Progressive Web App'.

In terms of web accessibility, you can check the readability of text, the proper use of alt tags for images, and whether the link prompts are clearly stated, but also check for site display speed, HTML structure, and accuracy of site presentation to crawlers.They also conduct evaluations from the SEO perspective, contributing to overall site enhancements as well as just accessibility.

Thus, improving the website according to the results of Lighthouse verification enhances the overall quality of the site, which can lead to better search ranking.

◆ Lighthouse report screen

For more details on 'Lighthouse', click here (Chrome Web Store).

Tool ③ (Free) NVDA (Japanese version)

'NVDA' is a screen reader for Windows and is an open-source software used worldwide. Screen readers are commonly known as 'speech synthesis software', which convert text on the screen into synthesized speech, mainly used as an aid for visually impaired individuals, but it can also be used as a web accessibility check tool.

Voice reading includes not only the text on the web browser but alsoCommonly used applications, such as email, chat tools, and office-related apps, are widely supported.This doesn’t simply read text on the screen, but also automatically reads text at the mouse cursor’s position and reports that position audibly, providing features that consider the convenience of users with visual impairments.

Additionally, it supports a wide variety of Braille displays,Automatic detection of connected braille displays, as well as braille input when there are input keys on the braille display.Will perform.

Below is a voice sample of text read aloud using NVDA. While the intonation is somewhat mechanical, it is clear and easy to understand.

◆ NVDA (Japanese version) voice reading *Be careful with the volume.

For more details on 'NVDA Japanese Version', click here.

Tool ④ (Free) Colorblind Web Page Filter

It is a tool that verifies how a website appears to users with color vision characteristics. Even as a tool,No software installation or registration is necessary; just enter the URL of the page you want to test on the 'Colorblind Web Page Filter' site.Thus, it is easy to check.

For a single page, by switching patterns for type 1 color vision (difficulty distinguishing gray and red), type 2 color vision (difficulty distinguishing gray and green), type 3 color vision (confusion between yellow and blue), you can understand how each will appear.

The display language of the Colorblind Web Page Filter site itself is English, but usage is straightforward, and it should function correctly when translated through Google. Below is an actual check screen, which allows for comparison of the visual perspective of sighted users* with the filtered view for color vision characteristics.Both scroll in sync, making it easy to compare without overlooking anything.It is.

※ Sighted individuals: Those who do not have visual impairments.

◆Comparison screen of Colorblind Web Page Filter

・ Comparison with type 1 color vision.

・ Comparison with type 2 color vision.

For more details about 'Colorblind Web Page Filter', click here.

 

Paid web accessibility check tools

Next, we will introduce typical paid accessibility check tools.

Tool ⑤ (Paid) WAIV2 (formerly WAIV)

'WAIV' automatically analyzes websites, scoring their level of accessibility compliance based on JIS X 8341-3:2016 while detailing their issues and correction points. It applies not only to standard websites, but also...It can analyze websites, including PDFs..

The level of compliance is clearly indicated numerically, providing specificity and clarity, and it displays scores not only for the overall score but also for detailed items such as display speed, ease of use, and readability of text.

Moreover, it picks up on issues that aren’t defined in the standards but would cause trouble for users, automatically evaluating aspects such as broken links, confusing text sequences, color usage, and content volume.This tool alone can enhance the accessibility of the website down to the finer details..

In April 2024, the new 'WAIV2' was released, incorporating accessibility requirements for smartphones and web applications, and is now compatible with versions 2.1 and 2.2 of the international standard WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

Details about 'WAIV2' can be found here.

Tool ⑥ (Paid) axe Monitor

'axe Monitor' automatically crawls the website, checks for accessibility issues, and provides data analysis and reporting. It does this not just on a page-by-page basis, but also acrossAllows for overall site verification in a single batch.It is a user-friendly tool.

From the detail screen of areas with accessibility issues, you can check the status of responses and assign responsibilities, making it easier to share problems whether you choose to handle corrections in-house or outsource.

Specialized staff will support during the introduction and operation of tools.Therefore, even for those in industries completely unrelated to IT, such as 'We must make our website accessible!', you can use it with confidence.

Details about 'axe Monitor' can be found here.

Tool ⑦ (Paid) Siteimprove

'Siteimprove', used by over 7,000 companies and organizations worldwide, regularly crawls websites toAutomatically verifies all pages over 200 check items.They will do so, comprehensively identifying various issues related to site quality such as 'broken links', 'display speed', 'inconsistent representation', 'spelling and typographical errors', and 'accessibility'.

Siteimprove suggests priority actions based on the impact of issues (*), and as progress in improvements is graphed, the entire project team can share the status and advance web accessibility efforts more efficiently. Therefore,If you have a department or team for web accessibility compliance in-house, it is a tool you should definitely utilize.is one among them.

For example, if there are multiple broken links, it can suggest improvements starting from the most-clicked links.

For more details on 'Siteimprove',

Web accessibility check tools capable of implementing features.

Tools ① to ⑦ are for checking websites, while Tool ⑧ is provided by us and allows for checks and implementation of accessibility features.

Tool ⑧ (Paid) uniweb (Uniweb)

'Uniweb' is based on JIS X 8341-3:2016A one-stop solution that analyzes site issues, automatically optimizes the site's structure, and implements features to support web accessibility.This is because it is plugin-based,Just inserting one line of code into the website allows for implementation as soon as the same day.This is a significant advantage.

Moreover, after implementing the features, it's not just the end; when the web accessibility standards are updated, Uniweb will address this, ensuring that updates reflect on the implemented sites, requiring no ongoing maintenance from the site. In April 2024, a new feature called 'Easy Japanese AI' utilizing generative AI was implemented in Uniweb, and in this wayBeing able to introduce new features as needed is also one of the advantages of plugin-type tools..

Reference article:Uniweb releases the 'Easy Japanese AI' feature utilizing generative AI.

Uniweb has various web accessibility features, but the menus to control each feature are consolidated in one place with a consistent UI design, and all features are implemented naturally without disrupting the site’s design.For those who want to implement various accessibility features while maintaining the worldview of their own site, this point is a significant advantage.It can be said.

◆Image of Uniweb's introduction

・ Accessibility menu.

・ Examples of applying accessibility features.

For more details on 'uniweb',

Five steps for web accessibility compliance using check tools.

Utilizing the web accessibility check tools mentioned in the previous section, we will improve the accessibility of our site, following a rough process as listed below. Each step is not a task that can be completed by one or two people, so it is advisable to secure a certain level of resources for each phase.

◆ The flow of web accessibility compliance: five steps.

Before carrying out the remedial actions,For those who wonder 'What is web accessibility?' or wish to deepen their understanding of web accessibility,Please read the following article in advance.

Reference article:What web accessibility measures must site managers implement?

Now, let's go into detail about each process.

Step ① Clarify the checking criteria.

First, we will check what kind of responses are needed for your company's site.Clarify the criteria for the scope of targets.Necessary. The standard for this is the 'JIS standard'.

In web accessibility compliance, the national standard 'JIS X 8341-3:2016' is the criterion.Therefore, accessibility compliance is defined by 'compliance levels', ranging from A to AAA, with 'compliance level AA' deemed desirable for web accessibility compliance.

◆ Compliance Level

This means thatCheck the site based on the JIS X 8341-3:2016 standards and improve or construct the site to comply with Compliance Level AA.Requirements are necessary. For specific achievement criteria, please refer to the Digital Agency's 'Web Accessibility Implementation Guidebook' and 'JIS X 8341-3:2016 Achievement Criteria Quick Reference Guide'.

Reference: 'Web Accessibility Implementation Guidebook' (Digital Agency)、JIS X 8341-3:2016 Achievement Criteria Quick Reference Table (Level A & AA) (Web Accessibility Infrastructure Committee)

Step ② Execute the web accessibility check tool.

Once the target scope to be checked is clarified, you actually run the check tool to assess the site. The check tool mechanically evaluates whether there are accessibility issues (whether it complies with JIS X 8341-3:2016) by crawling the site's source and provides a report.

Some tools check on a page-by-page basis, while others can crawl the entire site in a batch. Both areVerifying by hand takes an enormous amount of effort, but using tools can significantly reduce costs and time.

First, we will use the check tool to identify the problem areas on the site, including fine details that might be difficult to see visually.

Step ③ Carry out improvement work.

We will apply improvements based on the issues identified by executing the check tools. Depending on the problem areas, the actual tasks may vary widely, including design, coding, or implementation of new features.

Especially for sites that are already publicly available and in operation, it is important to set project priorities.Prioritize improvements starting from areas with high impact issues.I will do my best.

Step ④: Check visually (manually)

The improved site will be visually checked by humans or tested through actual operation.

Verification using check tools is purely mechanical, so in particular,Areas requiring human judgment such as sentence consistency may be overlooked.Focused examination and handling of areas missed by such check tools.

Also, for example, when using the site with just a keyboard, there may be a sense of discomfort in the order of focus traversals.Using the site in practice and employing the implemented features may reveal such issues.Therefore, we will also work on making corrections in these areas.

Since websites are ultimately used by humans, manual verification work is a very important process.

Step ⑤ Establish an operational system.

Web accessibility is not just a one-time task that ends once the work is done. Regular maintenance is needed, and when creating new pages or sites, it must also be done in accordance with web accessibility standards. Therefore,Document the flow of accessibility compliance, allowing for regular checks and updates.

Thus, after addressing web accessibility, this should beEstablish a system within the organization that allows for ongoing operation.It will be necessary.

Web accessibility check tools are merely evaluation tools.

As explained so far, while check tools are very useful for discovering accessibility issues on your own site during web accessibility efforts, they alone cannot resolve the issues.

Web accessibility check tools are meant only to evaluate the site, and the actual judgment, correction, improvement, or verification tasks must be performed independently.Thus, depending on the scale of the site, the resources that must be secured internally can become substantial, leading to significant costs and time requirements.

While there are options for outsourcing, the burden is considerable.

If resources cannot be secured, there are two options available.

① involves outsourcing the actual work of site modification and verification to a specialized company. Some companies will even conduct site diagnosis, allowing for a complete handover from scratch if costs are incurred. However,Initial costs can start from several hundred thousand yen, and depending on the size of the site, you may need to budget over a million yen.Additionally, after completion, maintenance costs of several tens of thousands of yen per month for corrections may apply.

Currently, JIS X 8341-3:2016 is the standard, butIf the standards are updated, each time you will have to incur costs to request compliance.This also needs to be taken into consideration.

Therefore, whether you engage in web accessibility response in-house or outsource, the burden is undeniably significant.

However, like our previously mentioned 'Uniweb',There are also tools that will automatically correct site issues.

With Uniweb, you can achieve accessibility compliance while keeping costs and project duration low.

The company we offer,By utilizing the web accessibility tool 'Uniweb', it is possible to implement accessibility features on the site while significantly reducing costs and timeframes..

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, if you outsource web accessibility feature development to a company, a lump sum will be required for development costs.The implementation cost of Uniweb is charged monthly per domain.The utilization fees are calculated based on the number of domains and page views, ensuring that costs are not wasted, significantly reducing your company’s burden.

Let's actually try the features of Uniweb.

If you would like to try out the features of Uniweb,Please click on the 'blue circular human-shaped icon' visible in the bottom right of this page.An accessibility menu will be displayed, allowing you to experience the rich features of Uniweb.

Uniweb is recommended as a web accessibility check tool that can also implement features.

This article explained web accessibility check tools; however, many of these tools are primarily for site verification, so subsequent development and ongoing maintenance must be conducted by the company itself.

However,By utilizing tools like Uniweb, which is responsible for everything from website checks to actual functional implementation, businesses can significantly reduce their burden and achieve high-quality web accessibility compliance.

As of April 2024, reasonable accommodations will be mandatory. On Uniweb's official site,Free diagnosis of the websiteapplications are also available, so businesses that are in urgent need of web accessibility compliance should definitely start with a diagnosis of their site.

Free Accessibility Diagnosis (Uniweb)

First, simply request information

This section introduces the functions of UniWeb and the introduction process.

Request Info