Digital Accessibility: Where Do We Start?

Talking about accessibility doesn’t just mean “being compliant to avoid a fine” – it means ensuring equal opportunities for access to digital information and services for everyone.
The topic is broad, technical, and constantly evolving.

Often, it turns into a jungle of tools, guidelines, acronyms, and requirements.
That’s why we’ve decided to gather in one single Hub the main resources and useful links for digital accessibility: audit tools, assistive technologies, color contrast checkers, official guidelines, plugins, training courses, frameworks, European and Italian regulations, and even available professional certifications.

The goal is to provide a practical starting point for those involved in designing, developing, or managing inclusive digital products.
Whether you’re a designer, developer, compliance officer, or simply curious, here you’ll find everything you need to start (or deepen) your accessibility journey.

💡 Accessibility Auditing Tools

• WAVE – Free online tool to visually and instantly identify web accessibility issues.
• IBM – Toolkit and checker to integrate accessibility into software development processes, including guidelines and automated tests.
• MAUVE++ – Italian system by CNR for automatically evaluating web pages and PDFs according to WCAG guidelines.
• Accessibility Scan – Free tool to check a website’s accessibility.
• AXE – Open-source engine for automated WCAG testing, integrable into browsers and CI/CD workflows.
• Silktide Accessibility Checker – Chrome extension that analyzes web pages for WCAG accessibility compliance.
• Stark Accessibility Checker – Chrome extension with WCAG testing, color contrast checking, visual simulation, and AI-based suggestions.
• W3C – Official collection of accessibility testing and evaluation tools curated by the W3C.
• PDF Accessibility Checker – Free tool to verify whether PDFs meet international accessibility standards.
• VeraPDF – Open-source tool for validating the accessibility of digital documents.

🦼 Assistive Technologies

• Magnifier – Microsoft tool to magnify screen sections for users with mild to moderate visual impairments.
• VoiceOver – Built-in Apple screen reader for blind or visually impaired users.
• TalkBack (Android Accessibility) – Screen reader for Android that reads text, buttons, and content aloud.
• JAWS – Widely used professional screen reader for Windows, with advanced navigation features.
• NVDA – Free, open-source screen reader for Windows, widely used by developers and end users.
• Be My Eyes – App connecting blind users with sighted volunteers for real-time visual assistance via video call.

📱 Mobile Apps

• Accessibility Scanner (Android) – Free app to analyze mobile interfaces and suggest improvements in accessibility, contrast, and touch targets.
• Accessibility Apps for iOS – A curated selection from the App Store focusing on accessibility: hearing, vision, speech, and voice control tools for iPhone/iPad.

📺 Subtitles

• Zeemo.ai – AI platform that automatically generates faceless videos and accurate multilingual subtitles for creators.

🌈 Color Contrast Checkers

• WebAIM Contrast Checker – Quickly checks contrast between text and background for WCAG AA and AAA compliance.
• Adobe Color Contrast Analyzer – Online tool integrated with Adobe Suite for testing color combinations.
• Deque Color Contrast Checker – Online tool by Deque for verifying color contrast and WCAG compliance.
• W3C Contrast Resources – Collection of tools and references for meeting WCAG contrast requirements.
• Figma Contrast Plugin – Figma plugin that checks color contrast directly during the design phase.
• TPGi Color Contrast Analyzer – Free desktop software to test on-screen color contrast, also works offline.
• Firefox WCAG Contrast Checker – Firefox extension for checking element contrast according to WCAG.
• WCAG Color Contrast Checker (Chrome) – Chrome extension for real-time analysis of color contrast.
• Colour Contrast Checker (Chrome) – Compares two selected colors and verifies WCAG compliance.
• Color Contrast Checker (Chrome) – Developer extension that detects contrast issues in real time while browsing.

🔌 WordPress Plugins

• WP Accessibility – Adds accessibility features to WordPress sites without editing the theme.
• Ally – Basic plugin to make WordPress sites more accessible, ideal for non-technical users.

♿ Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

• WCAG 2.0 (English) – Original W3C publication of the guidelines for web content accessibility.
• WCAG 2.0 (Italian) – Official Italian translation for better understanding of accessibility requirements.
• WCAG 2.1 (English) – Extension of WCAG 2.0 with updated criteria for mobile, cognitive, and touch interactions.
• WCAG 2.1 (Italian) – Italian translation, ensuring accessibility on mobile devices.
• WCAG 2.2 (English) – Latest 2023 update with new success criteria.
• WCAG 2.2 (Italian) – Italian translation of WCAG 2.2, aligned with recent regulatory requirements.
• WCAG 3.0 (English) – Draft of the future, more flexible and outcome-oriented version of the guidelines.

🅰️ Accessibility Frameworks

• MDN: Accessibility – Mozilla Developer Network section with best practices and technical guidelines.
• WAI-ARIA – W3C framework for making dynamic web content accessible to assistive technologies.

⚖️ Accessibility Laws and Standards

• European Accessibility Act – EU directive setting common accessibility requirements for digital products and services.

🎓 Digital Accessibility Courses

• Introduction to Web Accessibility (edX) – Free W3C course covering web accessibility and WCAG fundamentals.
• W3Schools – Short, hands-on course for developers with accessible HTML examples.
• WAI Digital Accessibility Education – Official list of W3C-endorsed accessibility training courses.
• WAI Accessibility Fundamentals Overview – Official W3C overview of the main principles of digital accessibility.
• WAI Digital Accessibility Foundations – Free comprehensive course for technical teams and public service designers.
• A11Y Project – Collaborative resource offering guides, tools, and continuous learning opportunities.
• A11Y Accessibility Courses – Professional training for designers and developers, with advanced paid options.
• Coursera: Introduction to Accessibility – Introductory online course on accessibility concepts and tools.
• AccessibleEU Courses – European platform with free courses on regulations, assistive tech, and inclusive design.
• web.dev Learn Accessibility (Google) – Google’s learning path with hands-on examples for accessible interfaces.

📜 Accessibility Certifications

• CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) – International certification by IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals) covering core knowledge in accessibility, inclusion, compliance, and inclusive design.

✅ In short: this curated hub serves as a complete, up-to-date reference for anyone working on accessible digital design and compliance – from audit tools to international standards and education paths.