ANDI

Accessible Name & Description Inspector - Section 508 Testing Tool

100% Free Federal Testing Tool

Developed by the Social Security Administration for Section 508 compliance

Free

No Cost

Section 508

Focused

Bookmarklet

Easy Install

What is ANDI?

ANDI (Accessible Name & Description Inspector) is a free accessibility testing tool developed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) specifically for Section 508 compliance testing. It's a bookmarklet (JavaScript bookmark) that can be added to any browser and provides detailed accessibility information about web page elements.

ANDI inspects the accessible name and description of page elements, showing exactly what screen readers and assistive technologies will announce. This makes it an invaluable tool for understanding how assistive technologies interpret web content and for identifying accessibility issues.

Unlike browser extensions that require installation, ANDI works as a bookmarklet that can be used in any browser. Simply drag the ANDI bookmarklet to your bookmarks bar, then click it on any webpage to activate the tool. This makes it convenient for testing across different browsers and devices.

ANDI is particularly valuable for federal accessibility testing, as it's designed to work with the Section 508 ICT Testing Baseline. It's used by federal employees, contractors, and accessibility professionals who need to ensure Section 508 compliance.

Key Features

Accessible Name Inspection

Shows accessible name for all interactive elements
Displays how screen readers will announce elements
Identifies missing or inadequate accessible names
Shows accessible name calculation (label, aria-label, aria-labelledby, etc.)

Accessible Description

Shows accessible descriptions (aria-describedby, title attributes)
Identifies when descriptions are missing or inadequate
Helps verify that complex elements have proper descriptions

Section 508 Compliance

Tests against Section 508 ICT Testing Baseline
Identifies Section 508 violations
Provides compliance guidance
Used by federal agencies and contractors

Visual Highlighting

Highlights elements on the page with accessibility information
Color-coded indicators for different element types
Shows ARIA roles, states, and properties
Displays heading levels and structure

How to Use ANDI

Using ANDI is simple - it works as a bookmarklet in any browser:

Install Bookmarklet: Visit the ANDI website and drag the "ANDI" bookmarklet to your browser's bookmarks bar. Works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and other browsers.

Navigate to Page: Go to the webpage you want to test in your browser.

Activate ANDI: Click the ANDI bookmarklet in your bookmarks bar. ANDI will load and start analyzing the page.

Review Highlights: ANDI will highlight elements on the page and show accessibility information in a sidebar panel.

Inspect Elements: Hover over highlighted elements to see detailed accessibility information, including accessible names, descriptions, ARIA attributes, and roles.

Check Issues: Review the ANDI panel for accessibility issues, missing accessible names, and Section 508 violations.

What ANDI Tests

ANDI focuses on accessible names, descriptions, and Section 508 compliance:

Accessible Names:

✓ Form labels and inputs
✓ Button accessible names
✓ Link text and purpose
✓ Image alt text
✓ ARIA labels and labelledby
✓ Missing accessible names

Section 508 Checks:

✓ Section 508.22.1 (Name, Role, Value)
✓ Section 508.22.2 (Labels)
✓ Section 508.22.3 (Instructions)
✓ Section 508.22.4 (Error Identification)
✓ ARIA usage and validity
✓ Heading structure

ANDI vs Other Tools

Tool	Cost	Best Feature	Best For
ANDI	Free	Accessible name inspection, Section 508 focus	Federal compliance, accessible name testing
axe DevTools	Free/Pro	Comprehensive automated testing	General WCAG testing, development
WAVE	Free	Visual in-context feedback	Learning, quick checks
Lighthouse	Free	Performance + accessibility	Performance audits, Chrome DevTools

ANDI's unique strength is its focus on accessible names and Section 508 compliance, making it essential for federal accessibility testing.

Best Practices

Use for Accessible Names: ANDI is particularly valuable for verifying that all interactive elements have proper accessible names
Federal Testing: Essential tool for Section 508 compliance testing and federal accessibility work
Combine with Screen Readers: Use ANDI to verify accessible names, then test with screen readers to confirm announcements
Check All Interactive Elements: Verify that buttons, links, form fields, and custom widgets all have accessible names
Review ARIA Usage: Use ANDI to verify ARIA attributes are being used correctly and providing proper accessible names
Test Dynamic Content: Re-run ANDI after interactions that add or change page content

Find Jobs Using ANDI

Looking for accessibility jobs that require ANDI? Browse our latest opportunities.

Last Updated: January 2025