ADA Compliance Checker
Paste your HTML code below and instantly scan for ADA and WCAG accessibility issues. This checker analyzes heading hierarchy, alt text, form labels, ARIA landmarks, skip navigation, contrast hints, and more — all client-side and private.
How the ADA Compliance Checker Works
This tool parses your HTML in the browser and runs a series of automated accessibility checks based on WCAG 2.1 guidelines and ADA requirements. It inspects your document for missing alt text on images, unlabeled form controls, heading hierarchy issues (skipped levels or missing H1), absence of a lang attribute on the html element, missing skip navigation links, empty links or buttons, missing ARIA landmarks, missing page title, missing viewport meta tag, and basic contrast indicators. Each issue is categorized by severity — Critical, Warning, or Info — so you can prioritize the most impactful fixes first.
Why ADA Compliance Matters
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that digital content be accessible to people with disabilities. Over 5,000 ADA-related accessibility lawsuits were filed in 2025, and the DOJ now explicitly requires WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance for government websites by April 2026. Even private businesses face legal risk. Beyond legal compliance, accessible websites reach a wider audience — over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. Fixing accessibility issues also improves SEO, as search engines reward well-structured, semantically correct HTML.
Common Accessibility Issues to Fix
Top Fixes for Better Accessibility
- Alt text: Every informational image needs descriptive alt text. Decorative images should use alt="".
- Form labels: Every input, select, and textarea needs an associated label element or aria-label.
- Heading hierarchy: Start with one H1 and don't skip levels (H1 to H3 without H2 is a violation).
- Skip navigation: Add a "Skip to main content" link as the first focusable element.
- ARIA landmarks: Use main, nav, header, footer, or their ARIA role equivalents.
- Language attribute: Always include lang="en" (or appropriate code) on the html tag.
Tips for Maintaining ADA Compliance
Accessibility is not a one-time fix — it requires ongoing attention. Run this checker every time you update your HTML. Combine automated checks with manual testing: use keyboard navigation to ensure all interactive elements are reachable, test with a screen reader like NVDA or VoiceOver, and verify color contrast with a dedicated contrast checker. Build accessibility into your development workflow by adding checks to your CI/CD pipeline and training your team on WCAG principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this ADA compliance checker test?
It checks for 15 common accessibility issues including missing alt text, form labels, heading hierarchy, lang attribute, skip navigation, ARIA landmarks, empty links/buttons, page title, viewport meta, table headers, autoplaying media, and basic contrast indicators.
Is this tool a complete WCAG audit?
No. This is an automated first-pass scanner. It catches the most common issues but cannot replace manual testing with screen readers, keyboard navigation, or a full WCAG 2.1 Level AA audit. Use it alongside the WCAG Accessibility Checklist for thorough coverage.
Is my HTML sent to a server?
No. Everything runs client-side in your browser. Your HTML never leaves your device, making this tool completely private and safe for sensitive content.
What is the scoring system?
The score starts at 100 and deducts points for issues found: 15 points per critical issue, 7 per warning, and 2 per info-level suggestion. A score above 80 means minor fixes needed; below 50 means significant accessibility barriers exist.
How often should I run accessibility checks?
Run checks every time you update your HTML or add new content. Accessibility is ongoing — new features, content updates, and design changes can all introduce barriers. Build checks into your development workflow.
What are ARIA landmarks and why do they matter?
ARIA landmarks (main, nav, header, footer, aside) define regions of a page for screen readers. They let users jump directly to content sections instead of navigating through every element. Use semantic HTML elements like <main> and <nav> which automatically create landmarks.