Before publishing web content, run an automated accessibility checker and conduct a manual review. While automated scanners quickly catch initial technical errors, human evaluation is essential to verify context, alt text accuracy, and logical heading structure.

Microsoft Office Accessibly Checker

Use Case: Built-into Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel that can scan and identify missing alt-text, color contrast, and improper heading structures. 

Access: Go to the Review tab on the ribbon and select Check Accessibility (or go to File > Info > Check for Issues > Check Accessibility 

Features: The accessibility checker will run in the background and categories issues as errors, warning, or tips. 

Grackle Docs

Use Case: Grackle Docs is a third-party accessibility checker that is available for Google Workspace (Docs, Slides, and Sheets). 

Access: Select the Extension tab in Google Docs, Slides or Sheets, and then select Grackle (Docs, Slides, or sheets).

Extension Not Available? Refer to Grackle Docs Accessibility Checker for installation instructions.

Features: Scans document structure, images, tables, and color contrast; highlights non-compliant elements; and enables one-click export to tagged, accessible PDFs. 

Adobe Accessibility Checker

Use Case: Built-into Adobe Acrobat Pro and can be used to identify structural accessibility errors. 

Access: Open a PDF in Acrobat Pro, select Tools > Accessibility, choose Accessibility Check (or Full Check), and click Start Checking. 

Need Adobe Pro? Adobe Pro is available for staff and faculty. Go to the UIS Webstore to download Adobe Pro.

Features: An accessibility report will appear on the side outlining specific errors (untagged text, missing alt-text descriptions, and missing metadata title).

PAC 2026

Use Case: Desktop application available for PC users to scan PDFs for structural accessibility errors according to PDF U/A and WCAG technical requirements. 

Access: Download and install PAC 2026 for Windows or use web-based axesCheck for Mac users. Drag and drop a PDF file into the white window and the scan will initiate. 

Features: Includes AI-assisted checks to evaluate semantic structure (headings, lists, and tables), provides a screen reader preview, and generates detailed Matterhorn Protocol compliance reports. 

Site Improve

Use Case: A web application, available for department web liaisons to review accessibility errors on departmental websites that scans webpages for WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 compliance. 

Access: Login to the UIS Siteimprove account. Once logged in, find the dashboard for your unit websites. If you do not see your site, email web@uis.edu to get access 

Features: Ranks issues based on priority and severity, highlight specific location of error, and allows users to rescan to validate if error has been resolved.

Canvas UDOIT

Use Case: An accessibility checker that can be used to scan course content including pages, assignments, discussions, syllabus and files. Identifies errors and provides helpful details to resolve errors. 

Access: Navigate to your Canvas course, select UDOIT from the left-hand course navigation menu, and click Run Scanner. 

Features: Provides "UFIXIT" inline remediation, allowing instructors to fix identified issues (such as adding missing alt text, fixing broken links, or adjusting heading levels) directly within the scanner interface without editing pages individually. 

WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)

Use Case: An extension that can evaluate web applications and identify errors. 

Access: Install the free Wave Extension for Chrome, Fireforex, or Edge. Launch by selecting the extension in the web browser. 

Features: Includes visual icons to highlight errors and includes a dedicated color contrast tab.

Web Aim Color Contrast Checker

Use Case: Measures text and user interface element color combinations against WCAG Level AA and AAA contrast ratio requirements before publishing digital content. 

Access: Visit Web Aim Color Contrast Checker and select the eye dropper tool to evaluate color contrast. 

Features: displays instant pass/fail results across all WCAG tiers, and includes interactive lightness sliders for quick color adjustment.