Current state of web accessibility in Latin America: an exploratory review of assessments and tools used

Abstract

Web accessibility is a social responsibility and a civil right that is expected to be fulfilled by all websites. This research proposed to analyze the tools, levels, and accessibility evaluation guidelines of websites managed by Latin American institutions. The methodology employed was an exploratory systematic review that allowed the selection of 43 academic works from the search in Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and SciELO databases. The majority of evaluated websites are educational and governmental. Additionally, the most commonly used tool for accessibility evaluation is the Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool, and only one website met the highest level of web accessibility (level AAA) according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The results suggest that greater effort is needed to promote and improve website accessibility in the region.