OTAN News
Accessibility in Minutes: Free Tools Every Adult Educator Can Use Today
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Check Color Contrast
The WebAIM Contrast Checker helps determine whether text is readable against a background color. Simply enter or select colors to see if they meet accessibility standards. For normal-sized text, WCAG recommends a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
Use it for:
- PowerPoint slides
- Flyers and handouts
- Website graphics
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Scan a Webpage in Seconds
The WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool is a free browser extension that identifies common accessibility issues, including:
- Missing image descriptions (alt text)
- Heading structure problems
- Color contrast issues
- Form errors
WAVE works directly in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
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Use Microsoft's Built-In Accessibility Checker
If you use Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or Outlook, accessibility support is already available. The Microsoft Accessibility Checker scans files for issues such as:
- Missing alt text
- Reading-order problems
- Table formatting concerns
To access it:
- Open your file
- Select Review
- Click Check Accessibility
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Try a Keyboard Test
A quick accessibility hack is to navigate a webpage using only the Tab key.
Ask yourself:
- Can every button be reached?
- Can menus be opened?
- Is the cursor focus visible?
Keyboard access is an important part of accessibility testing.
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Listen with a Screen Reader
Web accessibility experts recommend testing content with a real screen reader, such as:
- NVDA (Windows)
- VoiceOver (Mac)
Even a five-minute test can reveal missing image descriptions, confusing headings, or navigation problems.
Why It Matters
A few simple accessibility checks can help ensure that all adult learners can access and engage with digital content, regardless of ability or device.
Sources
WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool