Hand-picked tools, guidelines, and organizations that Quintin actually trusts and uses. No filler — just what's genuinely worth your time.
Free lead magnet tool
Upload a PDF or DOCX and QA11Y Labs will run an automated document accessibility triage. You will see an instant grade here, then receive a fuller report by email with the top risks and next steps.
This is an automated triage, not a full manual remediation audit. Public-facing, student-facing, employee-facing, or compliance-sensitive documents should still receive human review.
The software that blind and low-vision users rely on daily. Testing with real screen readers — not simulations — is non-negotiable for genuine accessibility.
The industry-leading screen reader for Windows. Used by Quintin for 25+ years. If your site breaks in JAWS, it fails the most widely-used assistive technology in the enterprise.
Free, open-source screen reader for Windows. Essential for testing. If you can only test with one free tool, NVDA is it.
Built into every Apple device. Apple set the bar for native OS accessibility. Critical for testing on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Android's built-in screen reader. Critical for mobile accessibility testing. Essential if any of your users access your product on Android devices.
Inspect accessibility properties of any element without needing a full JAWS license. Useful for developers who need to see what JAWS reads without a paid subscription.
AI-powered tool for JAWS + Microsoft Word. Helps with document accessibility workflows. Relevant for organizations producing large volumes of Word documents.
Automated tools catch roughly 30–40% of accessibility issues. They're a first pass — not a substitute for screen reader testing. Use them to catch the obvious before a human evaluates the rest.
Create a plain-language digital accessibility policy that references WCAG 2.2, ADA compliance context, and Section 508 awareness. A statement is not an audit, but it gives users a clear feedback path while your team works toward real remediation.
Zero false positives. The gold standard for automated accessibility testing. Integrates with browser devtools, CI/CD pipelines, and virtually every major framework.
CLI accessibility testing tool. Great for CI/CD pipelines. Run automated checks against any URL and integrate results into your deployment workflow.
Built into Chrome DevTools. Quick accessibility audits alongside performance and SEO. A 100 score does not mean fully accessible — it means passing automated checks.
Visual accessibility evaluation tool. Overlays error icons directly on the page, making it easy to see exactly where problems are. Great for quick page checks.
Checks against WCAG and IBM accessibility standards. Useful for organizations with government or enterprise clients who require IBM compliance documentation.
Desktop app for checking color contrast ratios. Use it on any pixel on screen — useful for checking PDFs, images, and other content outside the browser.
Validates HTML for structural errors that affect accessibility. Invalid markup often causes screen reader confusion. Run this before manual testing.
Accessibility checker for Google Docs and Slides. Great for document compliance. If your organization runs on Google Workspace, this is essential.
Fast Pass and Assessment modes for thorough accessibility testing. Microsoft's free contribution to the field. Well-structured for developers new to accessibility testing.
Whether you're just starting out or deepening your knowledge, these are worth your time.
The most thorough paid accessibility training Quintin recommends. Courses for developers, designers, QA, and managers. Certifiable and genuinely well-built.
Free articles, tutorials, and research on web accessibility. Essential reading. The WebAIM Million annual report is the most-cited audit of accessibility on the web.
The authoritative source for accessibility guidelines and techniques. WCAG comes from here. When you need the definitive answer, this is where to look.
Community-driven resource with checklists, patterns, and plain-language guides. Designed to make accessibility less intimidating. Good starting point for non-technical stakeholders.
The rules your digital properties must follow — and what happens when they don't. Legal exposure is real and growing. Know the landscape.
The current standard. All new web content should meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA. This is what legal compliance is measured against in most ADA and Section 508 contexts.
Filter and search WCAG success criteria. Bookmark this. The fastest way to look up a specific criterion, understand its level, and find how to meet it.
Plain-language explanations of every success criterion. When the spec language isn't clear, this is where you find practical guidance and real-world examples.
DOJ's final rule requiring state/local government websites to meet WCAG 2.1 AA. Deadlines vary by entity size — smaller entities have more time but the requirement is the same.
Guidance on how ADA applies to private business websites and apps. Businesses serving the public have legal exposure — this explains the DOJ's position and what courts have decided.
Many states are passing their own digital accessibility laws beyond federal ADA requirements. ADA Title II compliance deadlines are approaching — entities need to act now, not at the last minute.
State laws often carry their own enforcement mechanisms, timelines, and technical standards. An organization that meets federal minimums may still be non-compliant under applicable state law. The window to remediate proactively is closing.
Contact QA11Y Labs for a compliance timeline specific to your organizationFederal accessibility requirements for ICT. Applies to federal agencies and contractors. If you sell software or digital services to the government, Section 508 compliance is mandatory.
The baseline test procedures for Section 508 conformance. The official methodology for determining compliance. Required reading for anyone preparing ACR/VPATs.
The companies, nonprofits, and advocacy groups advancing accessibility standards, publishing research, and holding the industry accountable.
Leading accessibility company. Makers of axe. Major contributor to WCAG standards. One of the most influential voices shaping how the industry approaches testing and conformance.
A well-resourced accessibility firm with a strong track record at large organizations. Known for regulated industries and multi-property digital environments.
Accessibility consulting, tools, and research firm. Makers of the Colour Contrast Analyser. TPGi publishes deeply technical research that advances the field.
Nonprofit based at Utah State University. Produces the annual WebAIM Million report — the most widely referenced audit of web accessibility, tracking real-world progress year over year.
Educates, employs, and advocates for people with disabilities. Key advocate for inclusive workplaces and digital access. Relevant for organizations building inclusive employment practices alongside accessible products.
National Center on Accessible Educational Materials. Specializes in accessible learning materials. Essential resource for K-12, higher education, and ed-tech clients.
Largest organization of blind Americans. Advocacy, training, and resources. The NFB has been involved in landmark accessibility lawsuits and sets the benchmark for what blind users expect from digital products.
Pioneers of the Universal Design for Learning framework. Important for education accessibility. UDL principles apply broadly to any product designed for diverse user populations.
Accessibility law, standards, and best practices evolve constantly. These publications keep you informed without requiring you to follow dozens of sources yourself.
Weekly roundup of accessibility news, lawsuits, and industry updates. Essential reading. If you only subscribe to one accessibility newsletter, make it this one.
Regular updates from one of the most trusted voices in accessibility. Combines research findings, practical guidance, and industry news from the team behind the WebAIM Million report.
Weekly newsletter curating the best accessibility articles and resources. Broad coverage across development, design, legal, and user experience perspectives.
In-depth technical articles on accessibility implementation. Particularly strong on ARIA patterns, screen reader testing, and WCAG interpretation. Written by practitioners, not marketers.
Research, tools, and industry insights from accessibility experts. TPGi's blog regularly publishes findings that influence how screen readers and browsers handle accessibility APIs.
Websites aren't the only thing that needs to be accessible. PDFs, Word files, and presentation decks have their own compliance requirements — and their own failure modes.
Accessibility checker for Google Docs and Slides. If your organization creates large volumes of Google Workspace documents, Grackle closes a gap that no free tool covers well.
Guide to creating accessible PDFs in Acrobat. Most PDFs published online fail basic accessibility checks. This guide covers tagging, reading order, and the built-in accessibility checker.
Built-in accessibility checker in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Most organizations already have this and don't use it. It surfaces issues like missing alt text, poor heading structure, and low contrast.
The ISO standard for universally accessible PDF files. If you need to understand what a "compliant PDF" actually means technically, this is the primer. Required reading for document remediation work.
