Skip to main content

Access Assistant new user orientation

  • Updated

Access Assistant is a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer 11 that allows users to do automatic and manual accessibility testing in context, directly in the browser. This testing toolbar is fully integrated with AMP. All projects, reports and modules created within the toolbar (and all testing results) are saved to AMP for tracking and management.

The Access Assistant 2.0 release introduced a new user experience that is identical across all supported browsers. This version of the toolbar also makes use of the new and improved Access Engine accessibility testing library. This library includes a comprehensive set of Javascript-based, automated accessibility tests that will be used in AMP and all other integrated products.

On this page:

What is Access Assistant?

Installing Access Assistant

Logging into Access Assistant

Additional resources

Creating assets and reports

Access Assistant allows users to create their assets and reports in the toolbar while testing, so they do not need to go to AMP to get their testing environment setup. Users will only be able to create assets and reports in organizations in which they have the appropriate permissions.


Introduction to Access Assistant

Additional resources

Test a webpage

Test an element

Retesting and additive testing

Element filtering

Additional resources

Module and violation views in Access Assistant

Within Access Assistant you will be able to view the results of Automatic, Guided Automatic and Manual testing. This section provides guidance on how to view these results at the module or violation level.

Record macros in Access Assistant

The macro recording and playback feature of Access Assistant allows testers to record their interactions with a dynamic website or application, save the recording as a script, and replay the script during the AMP automated testing process. Testers use Access Assistant to record a macro, and when configuring an automated test in AMP they select one or more macros that should be replayed when the AMP spider encounters the associated page. This allows DOM states that require user interaction in order to make them visible to be accessible to the AMP spider, so they can be tested. For example, pages that are behind a login can now be tested by recording a macro in which the user logs in to the application, then adding that macro to the AMP test that should test the pages of that application.
 

Additional Resources

Manual testing in Access Assistant

Automated testing leverages Access Engine to automatically find accessibility issues on web pages via Access Assistant, AMP spiders, or Access Analytics. However, automated testing tools cannot test for everything; and, in fact, automated testing can only test for around 25% of all possible accessibility violations. Manual testing should therefore be completed for web pages to ensure complete test coverage and limited risk.

The recommended approach to manual testing is to use Access Assistant's manual testing capabilities, so testing can be done within the context of your content. Manual testing is easier than ever with the new Manual Testing Wizard added to Access Assistant. The Manual Testing Wizard allows users to run a baseline set of tests that minimize the total amount of manual testing necessary in order to achieve maximum results.

Manual testing wizard

Preview modes

Additional resources

 

Related articles