Authoring Tools and Accessibility: A Comprehensive Overview

Authoring tools are software and services that web developers, designers, writers, and others use to produce web content, including static web pages and dynamic web applications. These tools are essential for creating accessible web content that conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). However, not all authoring tools are created equal when it comes to accessibility. To help web developers and designers choose the right authoring tools, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has created the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG).

What is ATAG?

ATAG is a set of guidelines that explains how to make authoring tools themselves accessible, so that people with disabilities can create web content, and how to help authors create more accessible web content. ATAG is organized into two parts:

  • Part A is about making the authoring tool itself accessible.
  • Part B is about the authoring tool helping authors produce accessible content.

ATAG provides a framework and objectives for the success criteria, which are organized into guidelines and principles. The principles provide high-level organization for the guidelines, while the guidelines provide the framework and objectives for the success criteria.

How to Use ATAG

To help web developers and designers choose the right authoring tools, the W3C has created a list of authoring tools that have been submitted by vendors and others. The W3C does not verify the accuracy of the information, nor does it endorse specific tools. However, the Details section under the Tools listing has information on how the tool meets the ATAG standard. For a brief summary of ATAG, see ATAG at a Glance. License type options include free, limited free functionality, time-limited trial, subscription, and one-time purchase.

Types of Authoring Tools

ATAG applies to a wide range of authoring tools, including:

  • Web page editors
  • Content management systems (CMS)
  • Learning management systems (LMS)
  • Multimedia authoring tools
  • Websites that let users add content, such as blogs, wikis, photo sharing sites, online forums, and social networking sites
  • Software that converts documents to web content technologies, such as word processors and other office document applications with Save as HTML or EPUB.

Evaluating Authoring Tools

To evaluate authoring tools for accessibility, the W3C has created the ATAG Report Tool. This tool helps evaluators report on the accessibility of authoring tools and provides guidance on how to improve accessibility. The W3C also provides a list of accessibility evaluation tools on GitHub.

In conclusion, authoring tools are essential for creating accessible web content that conforms to WCAG. ATAG provides a set of guidelines for making authoring tools themselves accessible and helping authors produce more accessible web content. Web developers and designers can use the W3C's list of authoring tools and the ATAG Report Tool to evaluate authoring tools for accessibility and choose the right tool for their needs.