For more information on Section 508 requirements please contact the NOAA Coordinator Natalie Smith (natalie.d.smith@noaa.gov).
Testing is the final step in the accessibility process. There are a variety of tools that can be used to test accessibility. Below are a list of helpful resources based on the format of the information technology that is being produced or utilized.
PDF Documents
Adobe Acrobat Pro (2017) Accessibility Checker: This documentation from Adobe offers step by step instructions on how to run accessibility checks and fix errors.
Electronic Content Testing Resources (Section508.org): This is a link to the Section508.org resources on testing for accessibility. Not only does it include a variety of resources for checking PDF documents (How-Tos and even a YouTube video), but also resources for other forms of electronic content like webpages.
Word Documents
Accessibility Checker-MS Word: This documentation from Microsoft offers instructions on using the software's accessibility checker tool and how to correct some of the problems commonly encountered.
Electronic Content Testing Resources (Section508.org): This is a link to the Section508.org resources on testing for accessibility and for baseline requirements. Check under the heading for Word Documents.
Web Pages
WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool: a service of WebAIM, WAVE is an evaluation tool to check the accessibility of websites. Simply type in the URL and the site will produce a report of all accessibility issues.
Screen Readers
NVDA: NVDA, or NonVisual Desktop Access, is a free screen reader. This can be used to check the reading order of your document or webpage, as well as elements such as alternative text and ordered lists.
JAWS: JAWS is the most widely-used screen reading technology on the market. Much like NVDA, screen readers can help with determining if a document's reading order is correct and if certain elements are tagged correctly. The drawback to JAWS is that there is a fee to use the software and the licensing can be expensive.
VoiceOver: VoiceOver is the screen reader built into iOS enabled devices. There are YouTube videos available on how to activate and use the service.