Required Digital Accessibility Tools
While most of PSU’s digital content authoring platforms—including Google Workspace and the Microsoft Office Suite—natively allow for the generation of fully accessible digital resources, there are some digital resource types that require specialized tools for accessible design, validation, and remediation.
For step-by-step general accessible design and remediation checkpoints you may reference Digital Accessibility Checklists and Digital Accessibility Support Resources.
For specialized digital resource types like Portable Document Format (PDF) files and materials containing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) or music content, reference the following list of relevant digital accessibility tools.
Tools for Validating and Remediating PDF Files
PDF files require extensive validation to ensure accessible properties, reading order, alternative text, tag structure, and form functionality. This validation and any subsequent remediation requires professional PDF editing software like Adobe Acrobat Pro or Foxit PDF Editor+.
Available for Department Purchase
Request Software Installation
No Cost to PSU Employees
Request Software Installation
Scanned PDF files may require more robust Optical Character Recognition (OCR) than the built-in OCR available through most physical scanners and PDF editing software. ABBYY FineReader offers more advanced OCR functionality and is Available for Department Purchase through the vendor.
Tools for Handling Specialized Digital Resources
Audiovisual Media
Tool | Use | Access |
|---|---|---|
MediaSpace Caption Editor | Manual captioning and transcription editor (required to facilitate WCAG-compliance) | No Cost for PSU Employees |
YouDescribe Audio Description | Manual audio description generator (required to facilitate WCAG-compliance) | Free, Open Source Tool |
YouTube Studio Subtitles Editor | Manual captioning and transcription editor (required to facilitate WCAG-compliance) | No Cost for PSU Employees |
Mathematics and Science
Tool | Use | Access |
|---|---|---|
Equatio Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Equation Editor | STEM-capable OCR and equation editing and output (most compatible with Google Workspace for Education) | Departmental Purchase through the Vendor |
MathPix Optical Character Recognition (OCR) | STEM-capable OCR | Free, Open Source Tool |
MathType Equation Editor | Equation editing and output (most compatible with Microsoft Office Suite) | Departmental Purchase through the Vendor |
Pandoc Command Line | Command-line tool for LaTeX to HTML conversion | Free, Open Source Tool |
Music Notation
Tool | Use | Access |
|---|---|---|
SharpEye Optical Character Recognition (OCR) | Music-capable OCR | Departmental Purchase through the Vendor |
Lime Aloud Notation Editor | Music notation software capable of MusicXML output | Departmental Purchase through the Vendor |
MuseScore Studio Notation Editor | Music notation software capable of MusicXML output | Free, Open Source Tool |
Sibelius Notation Editor | Music notation software capable of MusicXML output | Departmental Purchase through the Vendor |
Automated and Manual Tools for Evaluation
Color Contrast Checkers
Tool | Use | Access |
|---|---|---|
Automated color contrast checker (required to facilitate WCAG-compliance) | Free, Open Source Tool | |
Automated color contrast checker (required to facilitate WCAG-compliance) | Free, Open Source Tool |
Online Course Materials
Tool | Use | Access |
|---|---|---|
YuJa Panorama Accessibility Platform | AI-powered accessibility validation platform (built into the Canvas LMS) | No Cost during Limited Pilot for Instructional Staff |
Web Apps and Content
Tool | Use | Access |
|---|---|---|
ARC Toolkit Browser Extensions | Automated and manual accessibility evaluation for web applications and spaces | Free, Open Source Tool |
Automated and manual accessibility evaluation for web and applications and spaces | Departmental Purchase through the Vendor | |
Siteimprove Quality Assurance Platform | Automated accessibility reporting for pdx.edu sites | No Cost for pdx.edu Content Managers |
WAVE Browser Extensions | Automated accessibility reporting for web spaces | Departmental Purchase through the Vendor |
WAVE API and Testing Engine | Automated and remote accessibility analysis for web applications and spaces | Free, Open Source Tool |
If you have any additional questions regarding digital accessibility for non-instructional digital resources at PSU, please submit a request for Digital Accessibility Support.
PSU Help Center (portal) link: https://portlandstate.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2/article/4422336907