Tip #14: The How – Checkers
Tip #14: The How – Checkers
Hello Team,
We’ve reached the final tip in our Accessibility Tips & Tricks series!
Over the past several weeks, we’ve built strong foundations in digital accessibility through the NCADEMI Accessibility Basics. Now it’s time for the tools that help us apply those skills consistently and confidently.
Accessibility checkers are where the rubber meets the road. They help identify issues, guide corrections, and reinforce best practices before content is shared.
Accessibility checkers:
Identify issues you may not see visually
Reinforce heading, list, table, and contrast structure
Provide guided suggestions for improvement
Help ensure alignment with WCAG standards
Build confidence before publishing or sharing content
Think of them as a second set of eyes. They support your work. They do not replace thoughtful design, but they make strong digital accessibility easier to maintain.
We have purchased Grackle for our staff.
Use Grackle in:
Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets
Grackle scans your file and provides step-by-step guidance to fix issues directly inside Google Workspace.
Use Go Grackle to:
Check accessibility of PDFs
Run a color contrast check
This is especially helpful when reviewing documents before sharing them publicly.
Built into Chrome Developer Tools, Lighthouse evaluates:
Website accessibility, Performance, Best practices
Great for reviewing department or classroom websites.
WAVE is a browser-based tool that visually identifies accessibility issues directly on a webpage.
It highlights contrast issues, missing alt text, structural concerns, and more.
Canva includes a built-in accessibility checker that reviews:
Alt text, Reading order, Contrast, Other accessibility elements
Run it before exporting and sharing your design.
Word, PowerPoint, and Excel all include built-in accessibility checkers.
In Microsoft Office:
Go to Review > Select Check Accessibility
These tools flag structural, contrast, and labeling issues in your files.
Open one document, slide deck, spreadsheet, PDF, or webpage you use regularly.
Run the appropriate accessibility checker.
Review the suggestions carefully.
Fix the identified issues.
Review the relevant videos for the appropriate checker.
This may be the final email in the series, but it’s where the real work begins.
Digital accessibility is not a one-time task. It’s a habit, a mindset, and a commitment to inclusive design. The good news is that you now have both the knowledge and the tools to make it sustainable.
Thank you for leaning into this work and for continuing to build accessible digital spaces for everyone we serve.
ESU 10 Accessibility Implementation and Planning Team