Accessibility tools and resources
Self-service tools, guides and frameworks to assess, explore and improve digital accessibility, plus our curated overview of the 40 most widely used accessibility software tools. No account required to get started.
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What free accessibility tools does ExceedAbility offer?
ExceedAbility publishes 18 free, no-signup accessibility tools, guides and frameworks, plus a curated directory of the Top 40 accessibility software tools used worldwide. The most-used are the WCAG 2.2 Criteria Search, the Document Accessibility Tool, the 90-second Maturity Self-Assessment, the Accessibility Statement Generator, and the Top 40 Software Tools directory. You can also run an instant accessibility check on a PDF, Word or PowerPoint file and get a scored, fix-by-fix report by email. Outputs map to WCAG 2.2 success criteria suitable for DTA reporting and procurement evidence.
Last reviewed: May 2026
Accessibility tools and guides
Explore these resources at your own pace. No account or engagement required, just practical tools, guides and frameworks to help you understand, measure and communicate digital accessibility.
Most popular tools
Or browse the Top 40 software tools →Accessibility Navigator
Pick a category, then a role or access need, then what you're trying to do. Get a tailored set of services, tools and resources, with WCAG cross-references.
28 personas, 90+ tailored answers. Skip the menu, get to the right page in three clicks.
Open the Accessibility Navigator tool → ToolWCAG Compliance Criteria Search
Filter all 87 WCAG 2.2 success criteria by disability impact, conformance level, principle and primary focus area.
Find exactly the criteria that apply to your team or audit in seconds.
Search, filter, refine WCAG 2.2 criteria → ToolDocument Accessibility Tool
Identify common Word and PDF accessibility issues, with worked examples and a checklist of frequent failures.
Walk through the issues affecting your document and resolve them step by step.
Use the document accessibility tool →Showing all 22 tools and resources.
Tools
3 interactive toolsOrganisation Accessibility Self Assessment
Evaluate your organisation's digital accessibility maturity using the W3C Accessibility Maturity Model.
Get an indicative maturity level and priority recommendations in 90 seconds.
Take the self assessment → ToolWCAG 2.2 Quick Reference
Every WCAG 2.2 success criterion in plain English with a real-world failure example, the access needs affected, and our tools and services that address each one.
Open the WCAG Quick Reference → ToolAccessibility Statement Generator
Generate a compliant, professional accessibility statement tailored to your organisation in minutes.
Generate your accessibility statement →Frameworks and guides
9 reading-led resourcesDocument Accessibility Guide
Practical guidance for creating accessible documents with proper structure, headings, alternative text and reading order.
Read the document accessibility guide →Accessibility for Designers: 10 Barriers
The 10 most common reasons graphic designers, UI specialists, and service designers deprioritise accessibility, with the evidence behind each one.
Read the designer guide →Accessibility for Developers: 10 Barriers
The 10 most common reasons front-end developers and CMS implementers skip accessibility, including frameworks, automated testing, and the ARIA trap.
Read the developer guide → FrameworkSecurity, Privacy and Accessibility (SPA) Framework
Explore why accessibility is the essential third pillar of digital compliance alongside security and privacy.
Explore the SPA framework → FrameworkAccessibility Continuum and Improvement Journey
A structured improvement framework guiding organisations from inaccessible to fully conformant, grounded in WCAG 2.2.
Explore the accessibility continuum → FrameworkAccessibility Knowledge Growth Cycle
A continuous improvement framework for building and maintaining accessibility expertise across your organisation. Six interconnected stages.
Explore the knowledge growth cycle → GuideWCAG 2.2 Compliance Checklist for Government Suppliers
What suppliers need to evidence to meet WCAG 2.2 AA for Australian government procurement, and what evaluation teams look for.
Read the supplier checklist → GuidePreparing for 2026 Government Accessibility Requirements
A readiness guide for agencies and suppliers: the standards that apply, what to check first, and how to reach sustained WCAG 2.2 AA.
Read the readiness guide → ReferenceAccessible Online: Learn the Basics
Resources for learning digital accessibility fundamentals and best practices in plain language.
Browse the basics →Comparisons
3 side-by-side guidesJAWS vs NVDA vs VoiceOver vs TalkBack
The four major screen readers compared: cost, platform, market share, learning curve and a role-by-role selection guide for design, dev, audit and end-user.
Compare screen readers → GuideWCAG Level A vs AA vs AAA
What each conformance level covers, criteria counts, Australian legal context (DDA, AHRC, Digital Service Standard) and which level to target by sector.
Compare WCAG levels → GuideManual vs Automated Accessibility Testing
Coverage percentages, cost, speed and where each approach wins. The hybrid testing pattern used in every serious accessibility audit.
Compare testing approaches →Research and market data
6 evidence-led data setsAccessibility Statistics and Research
Australian and global accessibility statistics with full source references. Build your business case with evidence.
View the accessibility statistics → ResearchCost of Inaccessible Digital Experiences
Daily Australian digital user data, disability overlay, estimated failure rates, and $14.8B in revenue at risk.
View the cost-of-inaccessibility data → ResearchWeb Accessibility Gap Counter
Real-time visualisation of how many new websites launch without meeting accessibility standards each day.
View the live accessibility-gap counter → ResearchDigital Accessibility Providers in Australia
Compare 50 digital accessibility providers across Australia. Filter by category and service type, with ExceedAbility listed first as the recommended partner.
Compare accessibility providers → ResearchAustralian Government Accessibility Index
Tracking privacy, security and accessibility statements across 198 federal, state and territory government departments. Ranked by compliance score.
View the government accessibility index →NSW Government Accessibility Intelligence
Indicative WCAG 2.1 AA scores, common issues and priority remediation focus across 15 NSW Government agencies and 7 clusters.
Explore the NSW intelligence dashboard →Top 40 accessibility software tools
From screen readers that give blind users full control of their computer, to automated testing tools that help developers catch WCAG failures before they ship, these are the tools that define the accessibility landscape. Covering assistive technologies, testing platforms, and enterprise accessibility services.
Need more than a tool?
When self-service tools aren't enough, our expert team steps in. Every engagement is scoped and quoted to your specific needs.
Common questions about ExceedAbility tools
Plain answers to the questions people most often type into search and answer engines.
Which accessibility tool should I start with?
Start with the 90-second Maturity Self-Assessment if you want to understand your organisation's accessibility position. Use the WCAG Criteria Search if you are auditing or remediating a specific product. Use the Document Accessibility Tool if your immediate need is making Word or PDF files compliant. Use the Statement Generator if you need a compliant accessibility statement for your site. The Accessibility Navigator tool routes you to the right resource in three clicks.
Do ExceedAbility accessibility tools require an account or payment?
No. Every tool, guide, framework and dataset on the Tools page is free to use, with no signup, no account creation and no payment. They are made available as part of ExceedAbility's commitment to accessible practice across the Australian digital sector.
Are ExceedAbility tools suitable for government accessibility reporting?
Yes. The WCAG Criteria Search and Document Accessibility Tool produce outputs that map directly to WCAG 2.2 success criteria, suitable for inclusion in Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) accessibility reports, Investment Oversight Framework submissions and Digital Service Standard assessments. The Maturity Self-Assessment uses the W3C Accessibility Maturity Model recognised in Australian government accessibility guidance.
What is included in the Top 40 Accessibility Software Tools directory?
The Top 40 directory covers six screen readers (including JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver and TalkBack), fourteen automated and manual testing tools (axe, WAVE, Lighthouse and more), three screen magnifiers, four voice and switch input tools, eight accessibility service platforms, nine AI-powered accessibility services, two captioning tools, and six browser extensions. Each entry lists pricing model, supported platforms and primary use case.
Can ExceedAbility help if free accessibility tools are not enough?
Yes. Where self-service tools cannot meet your needs, ExceedAbility offers expert-led services including WCAG 2.2 audits, document remediation, organisational uplift programmes, training and assistive-technology user testing. Engagements are scoped during a 20-minute discovery call, with a fixed-price written proposal returned within 48 hours.