WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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Re: Enterprise Web Accessibility Tools

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From: Michael.Moore@dars.state.tx.us
Date: Aug 23, 2010 8:21AM

We are using IBM Rational Policy Tester/Watchfire. The tool works well and support from IBM for the tool has been good. We only use the automated checks for section 508 and have the manual checks turned off. We tried the manual checks but every page flags and that was just too much to deal with on a large site. Although the automated checks only give us a partial view of our html accessibility compliance it has given us a good opportunity to standardize our approach and fix problems within the templates. We have also found that when new pages are posted and get caught in the checks that we can identify developers who need further training and we can catch manually checked issues at that time.

Mike Moore
(512) 424-4159


-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Katherine Mancuso
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 6:30 PM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED> ; <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: [WebAIM] Enterprise Web Accessibility Tools

Hi everyone,

I seek recommendations and evaluations of enterprise accessibility checking
tools from other people who work at large companies. Besides specific tool
recommendations (or suggestions to avoid a tool at all costs!), I'm
interested in general impressions of what these tools do, what they don't
do, etc, because I'm trying to figure out whether our requirements are
reasonable. I am particularly interested at this juncture in having
conversations with people who have used or evaluated Rational. Also if
anyone has any resources on the issue of evaluating these tools in general
that would be welcome.

I work at a very large corporation that has many websites; we mostly produce
ordinary web pages, we use a good bit of Flash & web-based video, and we
occasionally produce web applications and the like too but it's not a
primary focus. We are currently seeking a product that has customizable
error display using rules and one which will integrate with our existing
regression testing.

We have already evaluated HiSoftware, and we are currently evaluating IBM
Rational. I have been told that we should also evaluate Deque Systems's
Worldspace & SSB Bart's AMP. We are currently looking at WCAG 2.0 Level A
or AA compliance. Recommendations of other tools you've particularly liked
are welcome.

General thoughts about tools can be sent to the list; please keep in mind
when referring to specific tools that the tool's developer may be here on
the list, so it might be best to speak about specifics off-list.

I don't speak for my company in any way in making this query, for those of
you who might know where I work.

thanks,
Katherine

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Katherine Mancuso: crusader of community art, social technology, &
disability

Research:
Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (http://www.catea.org
)
Georgia Tech, Digital Media (http://dm.gatech.edu)

Community:
The Vesuvius Group: metaverse community builders (
http://www.thevesuviusgroup.com)
Gimp Girl Community Liaison/Research Fellow (http://www.gimpgirl.com)
Alternate ROOTS: arts*community*activism (http://www.alternateroots.org)

Contact in the web, the metaverse, the world:
http://twitter.com/musingvirtual
http://muse.dreamwidth.org
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kathymancuso
SL: Muse Carmona
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