Tools

A variety of adaptive technology, design, document conversion and site evaluation tools are available to users and developers, to help add captions, check compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines, make documents accessible, validate html and CSS code, and retrofit websites.

Adaptive Technology Tools

Adaptive Technology tools (in this context) enable persons with disabilities to access electronic documents and Internet websites. Common adaptive technology tools include:

• Screen readers and talking browsers
• Text-only browsers and
• Voice-to-text converters.

Design Tools

Design tools enable designers to make websites, software and animation more accessible as they are created or through retrofitting. Design tools that encourage accessibility include:

• HTML editors, and
• Animation programs.

There are a variety of tools that facilitate retrofitting, including:

• Captioning software and
• HTML retrofitting software.

Document Conversion Tools

Document conversion tools enable users to make existing documents (such as Word, PowerPoint or Excel files) more accessible.

Evaluation Tools

Evaluation tools enable designers to verify that their computer code is correct. Some also facilitate making revisions. Evaluation tools typically address one of two areas:

• Code verification and
• Accessibility compliance.