Download CSE HTML Validator to Check Accessibility

CSE HTML Validator Std/Pro for Windows can be used to check web documents for issues that can affect accessibility, based on WCAG 1.0 and/or Section 508 requirements. Be sure to turn accessibility checking on in the Accessibility tab of the Validator Engine Options (go to Options->Validator Engine Options). Read below for more information about accessibility and how CSE HTML Validator can help.

CSE HTML Validator helps check for Section 508 compliance and has been purchased by many United States government organizations including the Social Security Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Centers for Disease Control, US Postal Service, Department of Argriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, Library of Congress, FDIC, NASA, NOAA, US Geological Survey, and the US Census Bureau.

Simply open your document (a CSS file or HTML file containing CSS) in the program, press F6, and your document is checked. It's that simple!

TIP: Don't settle for an accessibility checker that doesn't also check the HTML, XHTML, and CSS syntax of the page. An important characteristic of an accessible page is that it is free of syntax problems. CSE HTML Validator Std/Pro checks HTML/XHTML and CSS syntax in addition to other accessibility issues.

Or, try our free lite edition, a free (for personal and educational use) HTML editor and syntax checker. The lite edition has basic HTML syntax checking but not accessibility checking.

What is Web Accessibility?

When a web site is accessible, it means that disabled users can use the web site as effectively as users who are not disabled.

As an example, image a web site with many images on it (using the "img" element). A blind visitor may be using a screen reader or talking browser to "view" this page. One of the most significant (and very easy to do) actions a web developer can do to increase accessibility and make a web page accessible is to supply appropriate "alt" text for each image. This "alt" text is what the user's screen reader or talking browser will read to the blind user because he/she cannot see the images. If this "alt" text is not there, then the web page often becomes inaccessible to blind users.

As an example, consider an image on a product page that says "Order Now" but there is no "alt" text for this image. Because there is no "alt" text, a blind user could easily get lost if they are trying to order the product. Instead, the image should have an "alt" attribute that is simply alt="Order Now". This will let a screen reader or talking browser tell the blind user that the image is the order button, and the user will then know what to do to continue ordering the product. Without this simple addition, a blind user would not be able to use the web page as effectively as a user who is not disabled.

Why Would I Want to Make My Web Site Accessible?

There are many reasons why you should make your web site accessible.

• Making a web site accessible not only means making it more usable for disabled individuals, but also for those with no disabilities.
• Individuals using slower connections or wireless devices (such as cell phones and PDAs) benefit from accessible web pages.
• Individuals who turn off images, perhaps because they have a slow Internet connection, also benefit from accessible web pages.
• Individuals using older browsers, perhaps because they're on an older computer with limited computing capacity, will benefit from accessible pages. There are still a lot of older computers in use at libraries and schools. Often, older computers are donated to and used in non-profit organizations. They too may be used to view web pages, preferably accessible ones.
• Accessible web pages often have shorter download times for all users, making for a better experience for all.
• The baby-boomer generation is aging, living longer, with an increased likelihood of having a disability. Add that to the number of children born with disabilities and the number of people who acquire a disability from injury or illness, and the result is a large and growing market. Why would anyone want to exclude this group?
• Accessible pages can increase efficiency, sales, and the number of people who return to a web site.
• Accessible pages can improve reputation and brand image, customer satisfaction, and customer retention.
• There may be a government mandate that requires accessible pages, such as Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act which mandates that US government agencies and departments have accessible web pages (and says a lot more about accessibility too).
• Having an accessible web page may reduce your legal liability. Some companies have been sued for not having accessible web sites.
• An accessible web site does not need to be less creative. Rather, it requires more thought and flexibility in design.
• Making a web site accessible does not need to add significantly to the cost of building and maintaining it.

How Can CSE HTML Validator Help?

CSE HTML Validator Std/Pro generates many messages to help you make your web site more accessible. Furthermore, unlike other accessibility tools, CSE HTML Validator also generates messages about the syntax problems in your HTML, XHTML, and CSS documents. These syntax problems are often another source of accessibility problems. By utilizing CSE HTML Validator's syntax and accessibility messages, as well as user feedback and human site testing, you'll be well on your way toward having a quality, accessible web site.

Please note that although CSE HTML Validator is an indispensable tool for producing accessible web sites, no computer program can find all accessibility issues. AI Internet Solutions highly recommends that you utilize human testing and feedback to find any problems that a computer program cannot find. Ensuring accessibility requires a significant amount of manual work. CSE HTML Validator helps reduce the amount of manual work to a minimum by quickly checking your documents and finding certain problems before your web site is manually tested.

Download a free trial of CSE HTML Validator Professional to check accessibility, including compliance with WCAG and Section 508 government standards.