About This Tool
We created the Web Accessibility Compliance Reporter to help our community review their digital presence for compliance with WCAG standards, which are essential for ADA compliance and accessibility best practices. This is a no-cost, community-led initiative designed to make the web more inclusive for everyone in Gainesville.
Important Legal Disclaimer
This tool is for educational and self-auditing purposes only. This report does NOT constitute legal advice.
If you have questions or concerns about legal liability regarding the ADA, we strongly advise directing them to a qualified legal expert or attorney.
Limitations of Automated Testing
Automated tools like this one can catch approximately 30-50% of accessibility issues. While a high score here is a great start, it does not guarantee full compliance. We strongly suggest validitating these results with manual testing, screen reader verification, and expert review.
Core Architecture & Standards
We strictly adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA. This is the global standard for web accessibility and the benchmark for legal compliance (ADA, Section 508).
Key Focus Areas
- Perceivable: Alt text, contrast, etc.
- Operable: Keyboard nav, no traps.
- Understandable: Clear labels, predictable UI.
- Robust: Compatible with screen readers.
The Engine
Powered by axe-core and Puppeteer.
- Executes JS before scanning.
- Filters for WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA rules.
Scoring Methodology
Our 0-100 scoring algorithm provides an objective baseline. Note that a score of 100 requires Zero Errors and Zero Alerts.
Error Weights (Deductions per Issue Type)
| Impact | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | -15 points | Blocks a user from performing a task (e.g., keyboard trap, missing form label). |
| Serious | -10 points | Significant frustration or partial blockage (e.g., low contrast on main text). |
| Moderate | -5 points | Minor frustration (e.g., decorative image missing alt=null). |
| Minor | -2 points | Nuisance issues. |
Other Metrics
| Metric | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alerts | -1 point | Potential issues needing manual review. |
| Features | 0 points | Passed checks (positive reinforcement). |
Understanding Your Report
1. Issue Details
We provide precise debugging information for every issue:
- Selector: The CSS path to the broken element.
- Source Snippet: The HTML code causing the issue.
- Help URL: Link to detailed solution guides.
2. Manual Verification
Automated tools catch about 50% of issues. Yellow Alerts are flagged for your review. For example, if an image has alt="image", it technically passes the "has alt text" rule, but it is effectively useless. We flag this for you to check.