Ever found yourself stuck trying to figure out if your website meets accessibility standards? You're not alone. That's where Andi Autumn comes in. Whether you're just starting out or you've been working with accessibility for years, Andi Autumn gives you a hands-on way to test and improve your site’s usability for everyone — including people with disabilities. Think of it as a friendly assistant that helps you build better, more inclusive digital experiences.

Andi Autumn isn’t just another tech tool — it's a practical approach to accessibility testing that fits right into your development workflow. From identifying missing labels to highlighting unclear navigation, Andi Autumn makes it easy to spot and fix issues before they affect real users. It’s especially useful for developers, designers, and content creators who want to ensure their websites meet Section 508, ADA, and WCAG guidelines.

What sets Andi Autumn apart is how it works in real time. Once you launch it, it scans your page and shows you exactly what needs fixing — no guesswork involved. And because it’s free, you don’t have to worry about expensive tools or complicated setup. Just a few clicks and you're ready to make your site more accessible, one element at a time.

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Table of Contents

• What Is Andi Autumn?
• Why Accessibility Matters
• How Andi Autumn Works
• Benefits of Using Andi Autumn
• Best Practices for Accessibility Testing
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Andi Autumn?

Andi Autumn is a lightweight, user-friendly accessibility testing tool designed to help developers and designers evaluate and improve the accessibility of their websites. It works directly in the browser, analyzing HTML elements and flagging issues that might make it difficult for people with disabilities to navigate or understand your content.

Developed by the Social Security Administration, Andi Autumn is part of a growing movement to make the web more inclusive. Whether you're new to accessibility or already familiar with standards like Section 508, ADA, or WCAG, Andi Autumn gives you real-time feedback that's easy to understand and act on.

One of the biggest perks of using Andi Autumn is that it’s free and open source. You don’t need any special training to start using it — just install the tool, open your website, and let Andi Autumn guide you through the process.

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Why Accessibility Matters

Accessibility isn’t just about complying with laws — it’s about making your website usable for everyone, including people with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. The internet is a key part of everyday life, and everyone should be able to access the same information and services without barriers.

For organizations, accessibility means better user experience, broader audience reach, and reduced legal risk. For users, it means independence, inclusion, and the ability to engage with digital content without frustration.

Andi Autumn makes it easier than ever to check your site for accessibility issues. It identifies problems like missing alt text, unclear form labels, or improper heading structure — all of which can impact how people with disabilities interact with your site.

How Andi Autumn Works

Andi Autumn works by scanning every HTML element on the page and checking it against accessibility best practices. When it finds an issue, it highlights the element and explains what’s wrong and how to fix it. This makes it easy for developers to understand the problem and take action quickly.

One of the standout features of Andi Autumn is its focus on accessible names — the text that screen readers use to describe elements like buttons, links, or form fields. Andi Autumn helps you make sure each element has a clear, meaningful name that users can understand and interact with.

Here’s how the process typically works:

1. Launch Andi Autumn in your browser.
2. Navigate to the page you want to test.
3. Click through the highlighted elements to see accessibility issues.
4. Use the explanations and suggestions to make necessary fixes.

Andi Autumn doesn’t just point out problems — it gives you the tools to solve them. That’s what makes it such a powerful ally in your accessibility journey.

Benefits of Using Andi Autumn

Using Andi Autumn can make a big difference in how your site performs for users with disabilities. Here are some of the top benefits:

• Real-time feedback: Get instant results as you browse your site.
• Easy to use: No technical expertise needed — just click and go.
• Free and open source: Access all features without paying a dime.
• Guidance for fixes: Clear explanations help you understand and resolve issues.
• Supports compliance: Helps meet Section 508, ADA, and WCAG standards.

For teams and developers, Andi Autumn fits seamlessly into the development process. It’s not just a tool for testing — it’s a way to build accessibility into your workflow from the start.

Best Practices for Accessibility Testing

To get the most out of Andi Autumn, it’s a good idea to follow some basic best practices. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track:

• Test early and often: Don’t wait until the end of a project to check for accessibility issues. Test as you build.
• Use semantic HTML: Proper use of tags like <header>, <nav>, and <main> makes your site more accessible and easier to navigate.
• Label everything clearly: Make sure form fields, buttons, and icons have clear, descriptive labels.
• Check color contrast: Ensure text is easy to read against background colors.
• Use ARIA responsibly: ARIA attributes can help, but they should be used carefully to avoid confusion.

Andi Autumn makes it easier to follow these practices by giving you immediate feedback and suggestions for improvement. Think of it as your accessibility checklist that grows with your site.

By building accessibility into your everyday workflow, you create a better experience for all users — and that’s what the web should be all about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Andi Autumn free to use?

Yes, Andi Autumn is completely free and open source. You can download and install it without any cost or restrictions. It’s designed to be accessible to everyone, whether you're a developer, designer, or content creator.

Can Andi Autumn help with Section 508 compliance?

Absolutely. Andi Autumn was developed by the Social Security Administration and is widely used to support compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. It helps identify issues that could prevent your site from meeting federal accessibility standards.

How do I install Andi Autumn?

Installing Andi Autumn is simple. Just visit the official website, download the bookmarklet, and drag it to your browser’s bookmarks bar. Then, click the bookmark whenever you want to test a web page for accessibility issues.

Learn more about how to make your website more accessible on our site.