Using the Hermish Accessibility Validation Service
Article Contents
Using Hermish
Hermish is a Web accessibility validation tool similar to Watchfire WebXACT - external link, Cynthia Says - external link and WAVE - external link. Hermish checks your web page for the following:
- Compliance to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508
- Deprecated elements and attributes
- HTML version support
- Browser backward compatibility
- Layout and page display
- Incorrectly placed attributes within your HTML
- Readability
To check your page with the Hermish validator, go to the Hermish web page - external link Now locate the web page submission dialogue box. Copy and paste (or type) the URL of the web page you would like to check into the dialogue box. Upon selecting Check page, Hermish will generate a report of the results.
Note
Make sure to include human evaluation in the accessibility testing process. Evaluate content from the perspective of different types of disabilities, keeping in mind the basic Web accessibility principles of perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness.
Understanding the Hermish Report
The Hermish Report is divided into various sections, each testing different accessibility aspects of your web page.
Compliance to WCAG and Section 508
Just like Watchfire WebXACT, Cynthia Says, and WAVE, Hermish will determine if your web page passes or fails to meet Section 508 and Priority 1, 2, and 3 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The Hermish Report also gives more information about why a web page may have passed or failed to meet these requirements and standards. Although a web page may pass one of the above standards, Hermish always suggests manual checks to improve accessibility.
Deprecated elements and attributes
The Hermish Report evaluates the proper use of deprecated elements and attributes. For example, Hermish recommends elements such as <b> no longer be used. Similarly, attributes such as bgcolor should be avoided. Instead of these elements and attributes, Hermish suggests that styles be used to create the same effects.
HTML version support
Hermish indicates if older and current versions of HTML are supported. Hermish currently checks your page with the following versions: HTML 2.0, HTML 3.2, HTML 4.0, and XHTML 1.0.
Browser backward capability
The Hermish Report will show you if your web page is supported in the following browsers: Netscape 2.0-7.0, Internet Explorer 2.0-7.0, Opera 3.0-7.0, WebTV, AvantGo WinCE, AvantGo PalmCE, and Mozilla 1.+.
Page display check
Hermish allows you to disable elements within your web page. You may disable images, tables, styles and scripts, and forms. Hermish allows you to view your web page as text only. By disabling elements, you will be able to see how individuals who use assistive technology will be presented with the web content. If your page does not make sense or function with elements disabled, it will be difficult and perhaps impossible for an individual with a disability to access your web page.
HTML 4.01 attribute error check
The Hermish Report checks your web page against HTML 4.01 for incorrectly placed attributes. The report will show you which attributes are incorrect and briefly describe the error.
Readability
Readability of your web page is included in The Hermish Report. Many web users have low-literacy or cognitive disabilities that make reading web content difficult. Hermish evaluates web page content and scores it. A score under 7 means most web users will be able to read your web page content. Note that readability scores can only evaluate the objective aspects of readability, such as sentence length, number of syllables per word, etc. As such, it is not a fully reliable measure of true readability, but it is at least a measure to keep in mind when evaluating content for understandability. To learn more see Write Clearly and Simply.
Quick Colour Test
Hermish also has a color analyzer. On the Hermish home page, simply enter the foreground and background colors of your web page and Hermish will generate a report.
Hermish will evaluate color brightness and color difference. These tests will help you meet element 2.2 of WCAG, which requires that foreground and background color combinations provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone having color deficits, or when viewed on a black and white screen.
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