CINXE.COM
Developer Help | Accessibility | Social Security Administration
<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="no-js" lang="en"> <head> <!-- REQUIRED META INFORMATION --> <meta charset="UTF-8" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /> <meta name="msapplication-tap-highlight" content="no" /> <!-- PAGE TITLE --> <title>Developer Help | Accessibility | Social Security Administration</title> <!-- PAGE META INFORMATION --> <meta name="DCTERMS:coderOffice" content="DCS:OITBS:OITEBS" /> <meta name="DCTERMS:coder" content="jcotter" /> <meta name="DCTERMS:contentOffice" content=" DCS:OITBS:OITEBS " /> <meta name="DCTERMS:contentOwner" content="pcrowell" /> <meta name="description" content="Accessible Web Development Help - Social Security Accessibility" /> <meta name="DCTERMS:dateCertified" content="2025-02-03" /> <!-- STYLES --> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.ssa.gov/framework/css/ssa.firefly.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="style/custom.css" /> <!-- ICON --> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="any" /> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.svg" type="image/svg+xml" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" /> <!-- SCRIPTS --> <script src="https://www.ssa.gov/framework/js/ssa.firefly.head.js"></script> <script>(window.BOOMR_mq=window.BOOMR_mq||[]).push(["addVar",{"rua.upush":"false","rua.cpush":"false","rua.upre":"false","rua.cpre":"false","rua.uprl":"false","rua.cprl":"false","rua.cprf":"false","rua.trans":"","rua.cook":"false","rua.ims":"false","rua.ufprl":"false","rua.cfprl":"false","rua.isuxp":"false","rua.texp":"norulematch","rua.ceh":"false","rua.ueh":"false","rua.ieh.st":"0"}]);</script> <script>!function(e){var n="https://s.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if("False"=="True")e.BOOMR_config=e.BOOMR_config||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams=e.BOOMR_config.PageParams||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams.pci=!0,n="https://s2.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if(window.BOOMR_API_key="LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB",function(){function e(){if(!o){var e=document.createElement("script");e.id="boomr-scr-as",e.src=window.BOOMR.url,e.async=!0,i.parentNode.appendChild(e),o=!0}}function t(e){o=!0;var n,t,a,r,d=document,O=window;if(window.BOOMR.snippetMethod=e?"if":"i",t=function(e,n){var t=d.createElement("script");t.id=n||"boomr-if-as",t.src=window.BOOMR.url,BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),e=e||d.body,e.appendChild(t)},!window.addEventListener&&window.attachEvent&&navigator.userAgent.match(/MSIE [67]\./))return window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="s",void t(i.parentNode,"boomr-async");a=document.createElement("IFRAME"),a.src="about:blank",a.title="",a.role="presentation",a.loading="eager",r=(a.frameElement||a).style,r.width=0,r.height=0,r.border=0,r.display="none",i.parentNode.appendChild(a);try{O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}catch(_){n=document.domain,a.src="javascript:var d=document.open();d.domain='"+n+"';void(0);",O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}if(n)d._boomrl=function(){this.domain=n,t()},d.write("<bo"+"dy onload='document._boomrl();'>");else if(O._boomrl=function(){t()},O.addEventListener)O.addEventListener("load",O._boomrl,!1);else if(O.attachEvent)O.attachEvent("onload",O._boomrl);d.close()}function a(e){window.BOOMR_onload=e&&e.timeStamp||(new Date).getTime()}if(!window.BOOMR||!window.BOOMR.version&&!window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted){window.BOOMR=window.BOOMR||{},window.BOOMR.snippetStart=(new Date).getTime(),window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted=!0,window.BOOMR.snippetVersion=12,window.BOOMR.url=n+"LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB";var i=document.currentScript||document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],o=!1,r=document.createElement("link");if(r.relList&&"function"==typeof r.relList.supports&&r.relList.supports("preload")&&"as"in r)window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="p",r.href=window.BOOMR.url,r.rel="preload",r.as="script",r.addEventListener("load",e),r.addEventListener("error",function(){t(!0)}),setTimeout(function(){if(!o)t(!0)},3e3),BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),i.parentNode.appendChild(r);else t(!1);if(window.addEventListener)window.addEventListener("load",a,!1);else if(window.attachEvent)window.attachEvent("onload",a)}}(),"".length>0)if(e&&"performance"in e&&e.performance&&"function"==typeof e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize)e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize();!function(){if(BOOMR=e.BOOMR||{},BOOMR.plugins=BOOMR.plugins||{},!BOOMR.plugins.AK){var n=""=="true"?1:0,t="",a="bdpnbevydtvsuz5vaq3q-f-ed78d2bd5-clientnsv4-s.akamaihd.net",i="false"=="true"?2:1,o={"ak.v":"39","ak.cp":"1204614","ak.ai":parseInt("728289",10),"ak.ol":"0","ak.cr":1,"ak.ipv":4,"ak.proto":"http/1.1","ak.rid":"fd337ee","ak.r":41870,"ak.a2":n,"ak.m":"dsca","ak.n":"essl","ak.bpcip":"8.222.208.0","ak.cport":39074,"ak.gh":"184.28.235.62","ak.quicv":"","ak.tlsv":"tls1.2","ak.0rtt":"","ak.0rtt.ed":"","ak.csrc":"-","ak.acc":"reno","ak.t":"1739916343","ak.ak":"hOBiQwZUYzCg5VSAfCLimQ==pn7sVJPSvBkHpNMfd/3VuE50bxwODmo295uhgfC+1S8Le+7Rt8OLEiIq6biTPEOVphwM1xVU1iiGNAS5Tt6cYybVId3MNDKhA04LsOPnvRyQkAEnreVrrohR1J0ePI3o0F2BDtJ9tBAePHXSCQ8pNP6gbj+oSl5pOseJjw2d4BaBYbZr688EnVXm6laDvXlJmLBXOHgPGYtalnMwFD7NlP/YHDMQu7H254msE3Wu/9RxLVXSc0SBRqowLkTqK9jctrc2F7O3sEgvVnl3nFCFB+y0Fh+4z1DziNUkgHyEn1o3WCfoN5uMMvfbmV7tYMQ8eMHTjg6PAV13phixICpGRBgRs+hWJVkNAMJgbVMeFV/xjSXrpqLSfIYVuHOHt6s5MkwgicG+gX8NKmHgZu25BR8aGoFQq94S8fIxodMmW3A=","ak.pv":"98","ak.dpoabenc":"","ak.tf":i};if(""!==t)o["ak.ruds"]=t;var r={i:!1,av:function(n){var t="http.initiator";if(n&&(!n[t]||"spa_hard"===n[t]))o["ak.feo"]=void 0!==e.aFeoApplied?1:0,BOOMR.addVar(o)},rv:function(){var e=["ak.bpcip","ak.cport","ak.cr","ak.csrc","ak.gh","ak.ipv","ak.m","ak.n","ak.ol","ak.proto","ak.quicv","ak.tlsv","ak.0rtt","ak.0rtt.ed","ak.r","ak.acc","ak.t","ak.tf"];BOOMR.removeVar(e)}};BOOMR.plugins.AK={akVars:o,akDNSPreFetchDomain:a,init:function(){if(!r.i){var e=BOOMR.subscribe;e("before_beacon",r.av,null,null),e("onbeacon",r.rv,null,null),r.i=!0}return this},is_complete:function(){return!0}}}}()}(window);</script></head> <body> <!-- BANNER --> <aside class="accessibility" id="accessibility"><a href="#content" id="skip-navigation">Skip to main content</a></aside> <!-- WCMS SITE ALERT (EMERGENCY) --> <div class="print-dn wcms" aria-label="Site Alert" style="background-color: #FFE396;"> <div class="fx mx-auto px3 py2" style="max-width: 75rem;"> <svg class="fx-none mr2 svg3" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"> <path fill="#FFFFFF" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke-width="0" d="M10.8,15h-1.7v-1.7h1.7v1.7ZM10.8,11.7h-1.7v-4.9h1.7v4.9Z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path> <path fill="#1C1D1F" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke-width="0" d="M.8,17.5h18.3L10,1.7.8,17.5ZM10.8,15h-1.7v-1.7h1.7v1.7ZM10.8,11.7h-1.7v-4.9h1.7v4.9h0Z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path> </svg> <a class="cc" href="https://www.ssa.gov/manage-benefits/make-an-appointment"><u>If you need to visit an office, schedule an appointment first. Find out how.</u></a> </div> </div> <!-- WCMS SITE ALERT (INFORMATION) --> <div class="print-dn wcms" aria-label="Site Alert" style="background-color: #E7F6F8;"> <div class="fx mx-auto px3 py2" style="max-width: 75rem;"> <svg class="fx-none mr2 svg3" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 20 20" aria-hidden="true"> <path fill="#1C1D1F" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke-width="0" d="M10,1.7C5.4,1.7,1.7,5.4,1.7,10s3.7,8.3,8.3,8.3,8.3-3.7,8.3-8.3S14.6,1.7,10,1.7ZM9.2,7.5v-1.7h1.7v1.7h-1.7ZM9.2,9.2v5h1.7v-5h-1.7Z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path> <path fill="#FFFFFF" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke-width="0" d="M10.8,7.5h-1.7v-1.7h1.7v1.7Z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path> <path fill="#FFFFFF" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke-width="0" d="M10.8,14.2h-1.7v-5h1.7v5Z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path> </svg> <a class="cc" href="https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/social-security-fairness-act.html"><u>Information about the Social Security Fairness Act (WEP/GPO)</u></a> </div> </div> <ssa-header class="print-dn"><noscript><header class="bg-logo white" id="banner" role="banner" style="background-color: #0b4778;"><div class="fx fx-jc-sb px2 py0 wrapper"><div class="fs2 fw4 ma0 l-fs3"><a class="fx fx-ai-c hover-yellow py3 white m-py2" href="/"><img alt="" class="svg3 m-svg5" src="/framework/images/logo.svg" height="64" width="64"> <span class="pl1 m-pl2">Social Security</span></a></div><nav class="fs1 fx print-dn"><a class="fx fx-ai-c hover-yellow px2 white" href="https://search.ssa.gov/search?affiliate=ssa" id="ssa-search" title="Search" target="_blank"><svg class="svg1" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M14.182.0q-1.994.0-3.814.78t-3.132 2.092-2.092 3.132-.78 3.814q0 1.713.558 3.281t1.59 2.847l-6.196 6.187q-.315.315-.315.776.0.469.311.78t.78.311q.46.0.776-.315l6.187-6.196q1.278 1.031 2.847 1.59t3.281.558q1.994.0 3.814-.78t3.132-2.092 2.092-3.132.78-3.814-.78-3.814-2.092-3.132-3.132-2.092-3.814-.78zm0 2.182q1.551.0 2.966.605t2.438 1.628 1.628 2.438.605 2.966-.605 2.966-1.628 2.438-2.438 1.628-2.966.605-2.966-.605-2.438-1.628-1.628-2.438-.605-2.966.605-2.966 1.628-2.438 2.438-1.628 2.966-.605z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path></svg> <span class="dn m-dib m-pl1">Search</span> </a><a class="fx fx-ai-c hover-yellow px2 white" href="/menu" id="ssa-menu" title="Menu"><svg class="svg1" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M3 5h18q.414.0.707.293T22 6t-.293.707T21 7H3q-.414.0-.707-.293T2 6t.293-.707T3 5zm0 12h18q.414.0.707.293T22 18t-.293.707T21 19H3q-.414.0-.707-.293T2 18t.293-.707T3 17zm0-6h18q.414.0.707.293T22 12t-.293.707T21 13H3q-.414.0-.707-.293T2 12t.293-.707T3 11z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path></svg> <span class="dn m-dib m-pl1">Menu</span> </a><a class="fx fx-ai-c hover-yellow px2 white" hreflang="es" href="/es" id="ssa-languages" title="Español"><svg class="svg1" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 14 16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M7 1C3.14 1 0 4.14.0 8s3.14 7 7 7c.48.0.94-.05 1.38-.14-.17-.08-.2-.73-.02-1.09.19-.41.81-1.45.2-1.8-.61-.35-.44-.5-.81-.91-.37-.41-.22-.47-.25-.58-.08-.34.36-.89.39-.94.02-.06.02-.27.0-.33.0-.08-.27-.22-.34-.23-.06.0-.11.11-.2.13-.09.02-.5-.25-.59-.33-.09-.08-.14-.23-.27-.34-.13-.13-.14-.03-.33-.11s-.8-.31-1.28-.48c-.48-.19-.52-.47-.52-.66-.02-.2-.3-.47-.42-.67-.14-.2-.16-.47-.2-.41-.04.06.25.78.2.81-.05.02-.16-.2-.3-.38-.14-.19.14-.09-.3-.95s.14-1.3.17-1.75c.03-.45.38.17.19-.13-.19-.3.0-.89-.14-1.11-.13-.22-.88.25-.88.25.02-.22.69-.58 1.16-.92.47-.34.78-.06 1.16.05.39.13.41.09.28-.05-.13-.13.06-.17.36-.13.28.05.38.41.83.36.47-.03.05.09.11.22s-.06.11-.38.3c-.3.2.02.22.55.61s.38-.25.31-.55c-.07-.3.39-.06.39-.06.33.22.27.02.5.08.23.06.91.64.91.64-.83.44-.31.48-.17.59.14.11-.28.3-.28.3-.17-.17-.19.02-.3.08-.11.06-.02.22-.02.22-.56.09-.44.69-.42.83.0.14-.38.36-.47.58-.09.2.25.64.06.66-.19.03-.34-.66-1.31-.41-.3.08-.94.41-.59 1.08.36.69.92-.19 1.11-.09.19.1-.06.53-.02.55.04.02.53.02.56.61.03.59.77.53.92.55.17.0.7-.44.77-.45.06-.03.38-.28 1.03.09.66.36.98.31 1.2.47.22.16.08.47.28.58.2.11 1.06-.03 1.28.31.22.34-.88 2.09-1.22 2.28-.34.19-.48.64-.84.92s-.81.64-1.27.91c-.41.23-.47.66-.66.8 3.14-.7 5.48-3.5 5.48-6.84.0-3.86-3.14-7-7-7L7 1zm1.64 6.56c-.09.03-.28.22-.78-.08-.48-.3-.81-.23-.86-.28.0.0-.05-.11.17-.14.44-.05.98.41 1.11.41.13.0.19-.13.41-.05.22.08.05.13-.05.14zM6.34 1.7c-.05-.03.03-.08.09-.14.03-.03.02-.11.05-.14.11-.11.61-.25.52.03-.11.27-.58.3-.66.25zm1.23.89c-.19-.02-.58-.05-.52-.14.3-.28-.09-.38-.34-.38-.25-.02-.34-.16-.22-.19.12-.03.61.02.7.08.08.06.52.25.55.38.02.13.0.25-.17.25zm1.47-.05c-.14.09-.83-.41-.95-.52-.56-.48-.89-.31-1-.41-.11-.1-.08-.19.11-.34.19-.15.69.06 1 .09.3.03.66.27.66.55.02.25.33.5.19.63h-.01z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path></svg> <span class="dn m-dib m-pl1">Español</span> </a><a class="fx fx-ai-c hover-yellow px2 white" href="https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.action" id="ssa-signin" title="Sign in" target="_blank"><svg class="svg1" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M12 17.016q-.797.0-1.406-.61t-.61-1.405.61-1.405 1.406-.61 1.406.61.61 1.406-.61 1.407-1.406.61zm6 3V9.986H6v10.03h12zm-6-17.11q-1.266.0-2.18.914T8.906 6H9v2.016h6.094V6q0-1.266-.914-2.18T12 2.906zm6 5.11q.797.0 1.406.586t.61 1.383v10.03q0 .798-.61 1.384T18 21.984H6q-.797.0-1.406-.586t-.61-1.384V9.986q0-.798.61-1.384T6 8.016h.984V6q0-2.063 1.477-3.54T12 .985t3.54 1.477T17.015 6v2.016H18z" vector-effect="non-scaling-stroke"></path></svg> <span class="dn m-dib m-pl1">Sign in</span></a></nav></div></header></noscript></ssa-header><script src="https://www.ssa.gov/legacy/components/dist/ssa-header.js"></script> <!-- MAIN CONTENT --> <div class="content"> <!-- TITLE BAR --> <section class="bg-ivory-200"> <!-- WRAPPER --> <div class="py2 wrapper"> <h1 class="fw4 ma0">Accessibility Support</h1> </div> </section> <!-- WRAPPER --> <section class="wrapper"> <!-- BREADCRUMB --> <nav class="breadcrumbs" aria-label="Breadcrumbs"> <ol> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="index.html">Accessibility</a></li> <li aria-current="page">Developer Help</li> </ol> </nav> <!-- GRID --> <div class="grid"> <!-- CELL --> <div class="cell print-dn w-100 l-w-25 fx-o-last l-fx-o-first"> <!-- SITE NAVIGATION --> <nav class="pt1" aria-label="Accessibility Support Navigation"> <ul class="list-nb pa0"> <li><a class="bb db pa2" href="developer_resources.html">Developer Help</a></li> <li><a class="bb db pa2" href="document_resources.html">Document Author Help</a></li> <li><a class="db pa2" href="contractor_resources.html">Contractor Resources</a></li> </ul> </nav> <!-- SITE RESOURCES --> <nav class="pa2 bg-ivory-100" aria-label="Accessibility Resources"> <h3>Resources</h3> <ul > <li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/andi/help/install.html">ANDI - Web Accessibility Testing Tool</a></li> <li><a href="checklists.html">Checklists for Accessible Documents</a></li> <li><a href="testmethod.html">SSA 508 Test Method</a></li> <li><a href="files/SSA_Guide_to_Completing_VPA_2-1_or_later.pdf" title="download pdf">VPAT Guide</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> <!-- CELL --> <main role="main" id="content" class="cell print-w-100 w-100 l-w-75"> <h3>Accessibility Resources for Developers</h3> <p> Social Security Administration software developers use a variety of accessibility guides and training materials to make the content provided by SSA accessible. SSA makes these resources available as a public service to assist anyone interested in developing and authoring accessible electronic content. </p> <div class="bg-gray-50 pl5 pt3 pb1 pr4 mb4"> <h4 class="fs3">ANDI - Web Accessibility Test Tool</h4> <p> ANDI, the Accessible Name & Description Inspector is an <a href="https://github.com/SSAgov/ANDI" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">open source</a> accessibility test tool you can use to check for 508 compliance of web content. </p> <ul> <li>Automatically detect potential accessibility issues</li> <li>Discover what a screen reader should say</li> <li>Suggests ways to improve accessibility</li> </ul> <p><a class="btn db ta-c m-dib" href="andi/help/install.html" target="_blank">Get ANDI - Accessibility Test Tool</a></p> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 pl5 pt3 pb1 pr4 mb4"> <h4 class="fs3">SSA 508 Test Method</h4> <p> The Social Security Administration uses an Accessibility Test Method based on the Section 508 ICT Testing Baseline. </p> <p><a class="btn db ta-c m-dib" href="testmethod.html">Read Our 508 Test Method</a></p> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 pl5 pt3 pb1 pr4 mb4"> <h4 class="fs3">YANKI - Accessibility Troubleshooting Tool</h4> <p> A tool for troubleshooting accessibility issues by temporarily removing problematic HTML and ARIA attributes. </p> <p><a class="btn db ta-c m-dib" href="https://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/yanki/yanki.html" target="_blank">YANKI - Accessibility Troubleshooting Tool</a></p> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 pl5 pt3 pb1 pr4 mb4"> <h4 class="fs3">Alternative Text Guide</h4> <p> Alternative text is used to describe images, charts, diagrams, buttons, and other elements in a way that provides information to users. However, there can be issues if the alternative text is incorrect, confusing, or lacks the necessary context. The SSA aims to create meaningful alternative text by following the guidance in this reference guide. </p> <p><a class="btn db ta-c m-dib" href="files/SSA_Alternative_Text_Guide.pdf" target="_blank">Download Alt Text Guide PDF</a></p> </div> </main> </div> </section> </div> <!-- FOOTER --> <ssa-footer class="print-dn"><noscript><footer class="fs1 print-dn" id="footer" role="contentinfo"><div class="wrapper"><a class="db" href="/menu#footer">Footer menu</a></div></footer></noscript></ssa-footer><script src="https://www.ssa.gov/legacy/components/dist/ssa-footer.js"></script> <!-- SCRIPTS --> <script src="https://www.ssa.gov/framework/js/ssa.firefly.body.js"></script> </body> </html>