Why human testing matters. Automated scanning is fast, but it is fallible — it reliably catches only a fraction of WCAG failures. A tool can confirm that an image has alt text; it cannot tell you whether that alt text is correct. It can flag a contrast ratio; it cannot tell you whether a page is actually usable with a keyboard and a screen reader together. Automated scans are the floor, not the ceiling. Human review is how we catch what the scanner cannot see.
Tools by Role
This page covers the software you use to check your work. For step-by-step instructions on making content accessible in the first place, see the Resource Library.
Siteimprove
Web editors, StratCom
WCAG 2.1 AA scanning of all CMC domains, every 5 days. Request your site’s accessibility report from ITS.
Learn more →Canvas Accessibility Checker
Faculty
Built into Canvas. Scans Pages and Assignments from the Rich Content Editor against high-impact WCAG 2.1 rules. No install required.
Learn more →Adobe Acrobat Pro
Faculty & staff
Full PDF accessibility checker and manual remediation. Free under CMC’s site license, separate from Creative Cloud.
PDF remediation guide →Microsoft Accessibility Checker
Staff, Faculty
Built into Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Review → Check Accessibility. No install required.
Learn more →WAVE Browser Extension
Web editors, QA testers
Free browser extension from WebAIM. Visual overlay of WCAG errors on any web page.
wave.webaim.org →Color Contrast Analyzer
Designers, content creators
Check foreground/background contrast ratios against WCAG requirements. Free from The Paciello Group.
Get the tool →Google Workspace Tools
Staff, Faculty
Built-in accessibility features in Docs, Slides, and Forms at g.cmc.edu.
Learn more →Screen Readers
Testers, web team
Test as a screen reader user: NVDA (Windows, free), VoiceOver (Mac/iOS, built in), TalkBack (Android, built in).
Requesting Tool Access
Submit a Help Desk ticket at help@cmc.edu with subject "Accessibility Tool Request." Include: which tool, your role, what you are trying to accomplish. ITS will typically respond within 3 business days.
Need Help Choosing a Tool?
Not sure which accessibility tool fits your workflow? Submit a Help Desk ticket and an ITS specialist will typically point you to the right resource within 3 business days.
Contact Help Desk →