Web Accessibility Testing Tools

On the next three pages are a list of popular assistive technologies used by disabled users.

Screen Readers

Here are a list of popular screen readers:

Bobby

Bobby is a tool that analyzes Web pages for accessibility and conformity to HTML specifications.

  • Bobby: Single Page Tests: You can test one page at a time online with the free online version of Bobby. You simply insert the address of the Web page to be tested, and Bobby will produce an instant accessibility report;
  • Bobby: Site Tests: To test more than one page at a time, or even an entire site as a batch, use the downloadable version of Bobby. It costs $99 and is available for:;
    • Windows;
    • Mac OSX;
    • UNIX/LINUX;
    • Solaris;
    • Solaris with JVM; and
    • Generic (all other Java 1.2-enabled platforms).

CAST eReader

CAST eReader adds spoken voice, visual highlighting, document navigation, or page navigation to any electronic text - Web pages, word documents, scanned-in text, or typed-in text. It is available for both Windows and Macintosh PCs and costs $199, with discounts for multiple licenses.

SSB Technologies' InFocus

InFocus helps Web authors fix Web pages that do not comply with Section 508 standards. Available for Windows, Macintosh, Unix, and Mac OS X and costs $1,795.

JAWS

JAWS for Windows is a popular screen reader software application. JAWS runs on 95, 98, ME, 2000, NT and XP and costs from $895.

>Lynx Viewer

The Lynx Viewer is a free online tool that generates a Lynx (text-mode web browser) version of your Web page. You may be surprised at how bad your Web page looks!

Window-Eyes

Window-Eyes is a screen reader with support for multiple users, over 50 speech synthesizers, 40 braille displays, PDF and Macromedia Flash. Window-Eyes runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 and XP and costs from $595.

Screen Magnifiers

Here are a list of popular screen magnifiers.

MAGic Screen Magnification

MAGic Screen Magnification with Speech combines magnification features with a low vision speech option. MAGic runs on Windows 95, 98, Me, and XP Home. MAGic with Speech costs $545, while the no Speech version costs $295.

ZoomText Xtra!

ZoomText Xtra consists of a screen magnifier and a fully integrated magnifier and screen reader. The software runs on Windows XP, ME, 2000, NT4, 98 and 95. ZoomText Xtra Level 1 (Advanced Screen Magnification) costs $395 and ZoomText Xtra Level 2 (Integrated Magnification and Screen Reading) costs $595.

Voice Input Systems

Here is a popular voice input system:

Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a speech recognition system designed for hands-free PC use. Various versions are offered depending on your requirements. Costs vary from $59.99 to $995.99