Checking accessibility

The browser-based software axe Monitor enables employees of the University of Vienna who are responsible for public websites of the University of Vienna to automatically check them for accessibility. The cloud service is operated by Deque Systems Europe B.V.

 Please note: End of operations of axe Monitor

The axe Monitor software will only be available until the end of the year. Therefore, you should export all issues from your projects that axe Monitor has identified and that you still need before 31 December 2024. To do this, use the Exporting issues user guide.

For more information, see the news article Checking accessibility goes offline temporarily.

 Direct links

axe Monitor

Form Anfrage zu Barrierefreiheit prüfen (request for checking accessibility, in German)

Accessible websites

The Web-Zugänglichkeits-Gesetz (Web Accessibility Act) stipulates the barrier free design of public websites. This means that websites of the University of Vienna and their content must also be understandable, navigable and usable for persons with disabilities.

The basis for this are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 of the World Wide Web Consortium. The conformance level AA defined therein must be achieved by public websites of the University of Vienna (medium priority requirements must be fulfilled). More information is available in the intranet space Digitale Barrierefreiheit (digital accessibility, in German) as well as in the courses on digital accessibility (in German).

Checking accessibility with axe Monitor

The axe Monitor software automatically checks whether the websites entered in axe Monitor comply with the WCAG guidelines and compliance levels. Among other things, the recommended conformance level AA can be selected in axe Monitor under WCAG 2.1. Users then receive a report in axe Monitor about violations of these guidelines or barriers on the website and the associated subpages. With the help of this evaluation, users can remove the barriers found on the website.

 Note

The automated check with axe Monitor does not detect all barriers or problems. In order to achieve full accessibility according to compliance level AA, accessibility experts must also check the website and appropriate measures must be taken.


If desired, axe Monitor can automatically repeat this check at adjustable intervals and send a corresponding report by e-mail. Changes to websites are thus continuously checked and those responsible for websites are reminded to comply with the guidelines. Reports or data older than 1 year are automatically deleted from axe Monitor. 

If axe Monitor finds barriers that affect the central CMS TYPO3, please contact the TYPO3 team via cms.zid@univie.ac.at.

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Using axe Monitor software

axe Monitor may only be used for websites of the University of Vienna.

 Note

To ensure GDPR-compliant use, the axe Monitor environment of the University of Vienna stores data exclusively in data centres within the European Union and for a maximum of 1 year.

Support

For general questions about axe Monitor as well as your axe Monitor account, please use the form Anfrage zu Barrierefreiheit prüfen (request for checking accessibility, in German).

 Note

The ZID organises courses for axe Monitor as needed. Use the form Anfrage zu Barrierefreiheit prüfen (request for checking accessibility, in German) if you are interested in a course.

Terms of Use

The use of axe Monitor obliges you to comply with the Checking accessibility Terms of Use.

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