Accessibility Tools and Resources

These tools and guides can help you check your content, learn best practices, and make your documents, websites, and classroom materials accessible to all students, staff, and families.

• WebAIM Color Contrast Checker
  • Check whether your text and background color combinations meet contrast ratio requirements (WCAG 2.1).
• WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
  • Analyze the accessibility of your web pages and documents, including missing alt text, heading structure, and ARIA labels.
• Hemingway Editor
  • Check reading level and sentence complexity to help ensure plain language and readability.
• Accessible Social
  • Best practices for making social media content accessible across all platforms (e.g., alt text, hashtags, emojis, captions).
• Google Workspace Accessibility Help
  • Accessibility tips and keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and more.
• Microsoft Accessibility Checker
  • Built into Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook—helps check and fix accessibility issues.

Tools for Creating Accessible Content

• Scribely Alt Text Guide
  • A clear and practical guide to writing high-quality alt text for images.
• PlainLanguage
  • Tips and examples to help you write more clearly and simply—great for family communications and school-wide messages.
• Captioning YouTube Videos
  • Instructions for adding and editing captions on YouTube.

• CAST – Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines
  • Framework for designing inclusive lessons and learning environments that support all learners.
• Bookshare
  • A free resource for U.S. schools that provides accessible ebooks for students with qualifying reading barriers.
• National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)
  • Extensive resources for creating and delivering accessible instructional materials.
• Understood
  • Designed for families and educators of students with learning and thinking differences—offers simple accessibility explanations and inclusive teaching tips.
• Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP)
  • Free library of accessible educational videos for teachers of Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, and visually impaired students.
• Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
  • The organization behind UDL and AEM. Offers professional learning and tools for schools to improve accessibility and inclusion.

     Next Topic: Frequently Asked Questions