equal-access

Questions & Answers

What is the IBM Equal Access Toolkit?

The IBM Equal Access Toolkit is a collection of tools and supporting components designed to help create accessible digital experiences. It includes browser extensions and automated testing packages for integrating accessibility checks into various development workflows.

Who should use the IBM Equal Access Toolkit?

The toolkit is intended for developers, designers, and quality assurance teams who need to ensure their systems comply with accessibility standards. It supports both manual browser-based checking and automated CI/CD pipeline integration.

How does IBM Equal Access Toolkit compare to other accessibility testing tools?

The IBM Equal Access Toolkit offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, alongside Node.js-based automated testing packages for CI pipelines. It integrates IBM's own extensive accessibility guidance and rule set, providing a robust solution for compliance.

When is the best time to integrate IBM Equal Access Toolkit into a project?

The toolkit is primarily designed to be integrated into the "Verify" phase of a project, as part of the IBM Equal Access Toolkit's guidance. Automated checks are ideal for continuous integration, while browser extensions are useful for interactive development and debugging throughout the development lifecycle.

How can I integrate automated accessibility checks into my CI pipeline using this toolkit?

Automated accessibility checks can be integrated into your CI pipeline using the "Node accessibility-checker" package, which works with test frameworks like Selenium, Puppetry, and Playwright. Additionally, a "Cypress-accessibility-checker" is available for Cypress environments, allowing validation against baseline files and scanning local files.